A Certain Pilot's Promise, Vol. 5

Part 8 - The Second Multi-Island Sea War (Continued) (Part 1 of Volume 5)

A Certain Pilot's Promise, by Koroku Inumura

Illustrations by Haruyuki Morisawa

Main Characters

Sakagami Kiyoaki. Former candidate for Second Lieutenant in the St Vault Navy and Air Force. Imprisoned under suspicion of being a spy for Urano.

Illia Kreischmidt. Candidate for Second Lieutenant in the St Vault Navy and Air Force. Member of the Voltec Air Squadron.

Reiner Beck. Candidate for Second Lieutenant in the St Vault Navy and Air Force. Member of the Voltec Air Squadron.

Kagura Murasaki. Former candidate for Second Lieutenant in the St Vault Navy and Air Force. Imprisoned under suspicion of being a spy for Urano.

Balthazar Grim. Second Lieutenant, St Vault Navy and Air Force Operations Headquarters, Intelligence Section of the Multi-Island Region.

Cecil Hauer. Fourth-year student at Selfaust Officer Academy.

Mio Syira. One of the "Seven of Eriadore." Takes care of Nina's personal needs.

Nina Viento. Second in line for the throne of Urano. Prophesied in Urano's creation myth as the "Saviour."

Ignacio Axis. Nina’s dedicated knight.

Ulshyrra. Countess who serves as Nina’s tutor.

Zenon Kavaris. Staff officer of Urano’s Intelligence Division.

Demistri. Prince of Urano, first in line for the throne.

Illustrations

World State

Part 8 - The Second Multi-Island Sea War (Continued) (Part 1 of Volume 5)

The Second Multi-Island Sea War (Continued)

The somber melody of the funeral procession intertwined with the clouds over Pleiades, the royal capital of Urano, and flowed through the narrow gaps between the marching ranks.

In Pleiades, soaring at an altitude of two thousand meters, it is not uncommon for clouds to drift at the same height as the ground. However, the sight of twenty thousand soldiers dressed in full ceremonial uniforms, forming two hundred phalanxes, marching through and breaking the clouds was a spectacle of majestic grandeur beyond this world.

The fragile string notes wafted gently, guiding the procession toward the sacred plaza.

The stone-paved plaza was filled with soldiers, and a large coffin drawn by a four-horse carriage made its way through the centre of the crowd.

The coffin was draped with the Urano royal crest, adorned with a crown and sword. Inside the coffin lay King Ortega of Urano, whose body, decaying after three weeks, rested on a bed of dry ice. Had he been born a commoner; he would have been buried the day after his death. However, due to his failure to clearly designate a successor during his lifetime, a three-week-long council had to take place, forcing him to wait in his frozen resting place.

The citizens who had gathered to witness the funeral procession mourned the death of their great king. Or perhaps, to not appear too caught up in the spectacle, they bowed their heads to the melancholic melody played by the military band. Without uttering a word, they watched as the sacred coffin was lowered from the carriage, carried by ceremonial guards, and ascended the steps of the holy temple.

Following the coffin, black-clad members of the royal family, surrounded by heavily armored knights, solemnly climbed the stairs and were greeted by the rows of pillars supporting the temple's façade.

The coffin came to a halt there. The funeral march ceased, and a clear, resonant bell echoed into the July sky. The seventeen royal family members each offered a single flower to the coffin and spread out in a line, after which only the coffin was brought into the temple. Ortega was now about to rest for eternity beside the former kings of Urano.

As the coffin disappeared, a bell tolled three times, resonating through the tens of thousands of silent mourners.

Through a prepared microphone, the first to address the soldiers and citizens was Pope Illustriali, the leader of the Holy Saint Aldista Church.

"When we are crushed by the enormity of the difficulties before us, we must remember that the guidance of the Holy Saint Aldista is always with us."

Beneath his bushy white eyebrows, Pope Illustriali’s deep-set eyes shone with profound compassion.

"My children, ask and you shall receive. Blessings come only to those who seek them. ...As the teachings of the Holy Saint Aldista tell us, the light of a lost star does not return. We must offer our sorrow and gratitude to the great king and then move forward once more."

Illustriali's words, spoken in a voice untainted by artifice despite his age of over sixty, were quietly received by both the soldiers and the people.

"That worthless priest."

Listening to the speech without interest, Prince Demistri, first in line for the throne of Urano, let a stream of curses fall silently into his heart.

—Someday, I will kill him.

Without showing any sign on his face, Demistri cast a silent curse into his own heart, directing his gaze at Illustriali’s slender back.

"The great era built by the wise King Ortega has passed, and now, we are weaving a new history. The Holy Saint Aldista has presented us with a choice. We must carefully consider, with all the wisdom and caution we can muster, what it means to have two heirs to the throne in this era."

Tens of thousands of people listened to Illustriali's speech without making a sound. When the first news of Ortega's passing spread through Pleiades, the interest of all five million citizens was immediately focused on one question: "Who will be the next king?"

By rights, the first prince, Demistri, should have ascended to the throne. Although he was still young at twenty-one, he was the eldest son born to Ortega and his legitimate wife, and his legitimacy as the successor was unquestionable.

However, four years ago, when "The Girl Who Calls the Wind," Nina Viento, arrived in Pleiades, everything changed.

The second in line to the throne, Prince Manius Sidus, born to a concubine, had been sent as an envoy to a distant frontier nation beyond the Sacred Spring, but in his place appeared the legendary figure prophesied to lead Urano, "The Ruler of Heaven," to become "The Conqueror of Heaven and Earth," and bring everlasting peace to the world. Since then, the radicals who had once supported Manius had eagerly shifted their backing to Nina, using the creation myth to constantly undermine Demistri’s support from the conservatives.

"Urano has awaited the arrival of Nina Viento for two thousand years. As prophesied by the Holy Saint Aldista, we must make her the next king. This is the contract between Urano and the Holy Saint Aldista..."

Demistri had watched these radicals for the past three weeks, seething with hatred. In the time when his father Ortega was alive, they showed not even a hint of unrest and had banished Nina to a distant palace, pretending as if nothing was amiss. Yet since Ortega’s passing, they had brazenly proclaimed Nina’s legitimacy to the throne, whether in public or in secret.

Demistri was convinced that the person pulling the strings behind the radicals was none other than Pope Illustriali, who was now addressing the people. He had yet to grasp the full evidence, but Demistri was sure of it. Using Nina as a puppet, the Pope sought to solidify the influence of the Holy Saint Aldista over the royal house of Urano.

Keeping his true intentions hidden, Illustriali continued to speak to the people with an air of benevolence, the very image of a compassionate holy figure.

"According to tradition, we will decide the next king at the Holy Saint Aldista's Festival of Saint's Birth, five months from now, on December 11th. Let us trust in the teachings of the Holy Saint Aldista, and with respect for both great heirs, entrust the future of Urano to the chosen one. The time of the prophecy is upon us. We will witness the day when Urano will reign over heaven and earth. Let us give thanks for this guidance."

There were no cheers or whistles. Illustriali lowered his joined hands from his brow to his chin, and the people bowed their heads in prayer, offering their mourning for the deceased king and their gratitude for the guidance of the Holy Saint Aldista.

Demistri, too, lowered his gaze solemnly, but without anyone noticing, he glared out of the corner of his eye at the girl standing to his right in ceremonial dress.

Silver hair. Eyes the colour of wild grapes. Dressed in an ostentatious white habit assigned to her by Illustriali, she gazed at the crowd in the square with her usual expressionless face, showing no interest.

—Nina Viento.

If only this woman had not appeared, I would have easily become king. His former rival, Manius, had been a clever man, but as a child of a concubine, he could not compete with Demistri in legitimacy. However, Nina had the absolute backing of the Holy Saint Aldista. As the prophesied saviour predicted by the incarnate god two thousand years ago, Nina's appeal surpassed even Demistri’s.

—Who knows how this will end.

At present, the conservative faction that supported Demistri held sway in the royal court. Most of the elder and lower council members had profited during Ortega’s reign. But depending on the actions of the radicals over the next five months, the situation could change unpredictably. After all, Illustriali was far too unsettling. With a mere gesture, the Pope could sway not only Urano but also the believers of the Holy Saint Aldista across the entire world. If Illustriali fully backed Nina, the royal house of Urano would be split in two.

—That wretched woman…

Nina, utterly indifferent to Demistri’s inner turmoil, stood there like a porcelain doll, her expression unchanged, showing no hint of emotion. Demistri had heard that she had been used as a political tool since childhood, and she likely understood that this current struggle for the throne had little to do with her own will. Even though she could take control of the world by claiming the crown, her detached attitude, as if calmly observing the frenzy of those driven by desire, only further enraged Demistri.

—Just wait. I will shatter that mask of yours.

Demistri was not merely a passive observer of the radicals' activities. He had already set several plans in motion. If things went according to plan, he could make Illustriali stamp his feet in frustration and bring Nina to tears, humiliating her in every possible way.

—You’ll regret coming to Pleiades so carelessly, Nina Viento.

Turning his back on the crowd and walking under the arching ceiling toward the royal sanctuary, Demistri silently cursed Nina as she walked alongside him, as if it were only natural that they should both make their way toward the king's tomb.

—The throne is not where you belong.

—Your proper place is a brothel in the slums...

As the heavy bronze doors of the sanctuary creaked open, Demistri channelled his dark resolve into the shadows within, then solemnly watched as his father Ortega was laid to rest beside the kings of the past.

Daily Life at the Lamia Palace is One of Resignation

It had been a week since Mio Syira moved from Zenon Kavaris's private estate to the Lamia Palace, and she had grown quite accustomed to her new life. As she cleaned Nina Viento’s room with a bucket and rag in hand, she couldn’t help but reflect on the sense of resignation that pervaded the palace.

The staff at the palace included three maids, five gardeners, and Mio, making a total of nine. In addition, there was Nina’s tutor, whom she had brought from her homeland, and twenty palace guards. Including Nina herself, thirty-one people lived permanently at the estate. Despite the number of residents, a constant, quiet, and lonely atmosphere hung over the expansive grounds.

The palace had an austere presence, almost as if it had absorbed Nina’s own reticence. Yet, for Mio, the living conditions weren't particularly difficult. She had been freed from the terrifying assassination training she'd endured at Zenon’s estate, and her current duties, which mainly involved keeping Nina company, were so monotonous that they felt like a relief.

In fact, what she did now could hardly be called work.

Zenon’s vague instruction to "heal Nina's loneliness and become friends with her" had amounted to little more than a formality. Whenever Mio tried to engage Nina in casual conversation, she was met with nothing more than disinterested responses like "yes," "okay," or "I see," and conversations never really took off. Since Mio wasn't particularly keen on following Zenon’s orders either, she would quickly leave Nina’s presence after a failed attempt at communication and spend her time assisting the gardeners, preparing meals for the other staff, or chatting with off-duty guards. She could essentially use her free time as she pleased.

Today, Nina had left early in the morning, accompanied by the palace guards, to attend the funeral of the late King Ortega in the Evangelis District. It was hard to believe that Nina, who spent most of her time secluded in her room at the top of the round tower, rarely exposed to sunlight or engaged in conversation, was now standing side by side with the first prince, Demistri, at a political event filled with intrigue and powerful figures. Mio couldn't help but worry, despite herself, about whether Nina would be able to handle such a challenging situation.

As Mio finished cleaning the floors and windows and began dusting the bookshelf, she accidentally knocked over a statue placed on top of the shelf.

"Oh no…!"

She managed to catch the statue before it fell, but in her panic, she bumped into the shelf, causing a brown envelope to fall to the floor and scatter its contents.

"Seriously…!"

Feeling frustrated with herself, Mio knelt down to pick up the contents and put them back into the envelope. Though she knew she shouldn’t, she couldn’t help but notice that the scattered contents were letters.

They were numerous letters sent by various people, each containing what appeared to be words of farewell. The name on each letter was not addressed to Nina, but instead, they were all addressed to someone named "Claire."

—Could Claire be Nina’s real name...?

—She had so many friends... How surprising...

Once Mio finished putting the letters back in the envelope, she realized it was already getting dark outside. Nina would be returning soon. Mio picked up her bucket and was about to leave Nina’s room when she ran into the tutor, Countess Ulshyrra.

"Good evening, Countess," Mio greeted her as she tried to walk past, but Ulshyrra stopped her.

"Mio, I need to speak with you."

"With… me?"

Mio tilted her head slightly in confusion, looking up at the older, nervous-looking woman. The countess, who appeared to be in her late fifties, pushed up her silver-framed glasses with her fingertips, her narrow eyes darkening slightly behind the lenses.

"It’s about Miss Nina."

"Yes?"

Mio had a vague idea of what Ulshyrra wanted to say, and her prediction was soon confirmed.

"I feel sorry for her, you see. The young lady does her best to avoid causing us trouble and puts on a brave face, but… to me, it looks like she’s forcing herself to appear cheerful. If she had a friend her own age, perhaps she would be able to enjoy her days a little more."

Ulshyrra spoke with the gentle tone of a mother concerned for her child. It seemed that she had grown fond of Nina after spending so much time with her during their lessons. Being much older than Nina, however, Ulshyrra couldn’t become her friend, so she was left with no choice but to rely on Mio, who was nineteen, the same age as Nina.

"There’s no need to rush things. With time, I think a relationship of trust will naturally develop," Mio responded in a somewhat cold tone. For her, she was here only because Zenon had ordered her to be, and she had no particular enthusiasm for the job. She figured that as long as she went through the motions, things would work out.

"True, but the young lady has seemed quite down lately. She’s been distracted during her studies, and if possible, I’d like you to make more of an effort to engage her in casual conversation. It would really help."

Though Ulshyrra’s tone was polite, Mio finally realized that she was being subtly criticized for her work attitude. It seemed that Ulshyrra was essentially telling her to take her job more seriously.

Well, it’s true that she couldn’t really argue with that criticism.

Reflecting a little, Mio responded, "I see. But the truth is, I don’t really know much about Nina. I don’t know what she likes or dislikes, or what kinds of conversations would be appropriate. I’m worried that I might say something unsuitable."

"In that case, consult Ignacio. He’s been serving the young lady as her most senior knight since he was in his early teens. I’ll make arrangements, so meet with him tomorrow morning to learn more about her."

"Uh, okay…"

"Thank you, Mio. I’ll set the time and place for your meeting with him."

With that, Ulshyrra quickly descended the spiral staircase, having made all the arrangements unilaterally.

Left alone in Nina’s room, Mio let out a sigh.

"Ignacio… that guy..."

He was the young man who had greeted her when she first arrived at the palace. He had an incredibly beautiful face for a man, but his manner was arrogant and haughty, and to be honest, Mio didn’t like him. The last thing she wanted to do was ask him for a favour, but since she was getting paid for the job, she figured she might as well at least pretend to be working seriously. Despite her reluctance, it seemed like following Ulshyrra’s instructions would help maintain the peace in this lonely palace.

She should have never agreed to it.

"…………………"

Looking at Ignacio, who sat before her with a sullen expression, Mio let out a silent, deep sigh in her mind.

The meeting place Ulshyrra had chosen was the palace courtyard, where the pleasant morning light shone down. Mio had arrived on time, but Ignacio showed up more than twenty minutes late, without so much as an apology. He stood there in silence, his face full of irritation.

Birds chirped in the awkward silence.

As frustrating as this was, nothing would change if she didn’t start the conversation herself.

"Um… I believe the Countess has already informed you about this. I’m Mio Syira."

"…………………"

Suppressing her rising anger, Mio forced herself to smile sweetly as she looked up at Ignacio, who towered over her.

"You’re Ignacio Axis, right? Nina’s most trusted and senior knight."

"…………………"

Answer me, damn it. Mio bit back the urge to yell and kick him, continuing on despite his silence. It seemed like Ignacio was still suspicious of her intentions. She needed to start by making it clear that she meant no harm to Nina.

Mio was used to dealing with difficult types like Ignacio, thanks to her experience with Balthazar. If you tried to hide anything from such people, they’d only become more stubborn and wary, so she decided to lay all her cards on the table right away.

"I’m here because Zenon ordered me to become friends with Nina. It’s just a job, so I have no choice. Please cooperate."

"…………………"

"If you want to keep Nina locked away at the top of that tower, then don’t help me. But my job is to have pointless conversations with her all day, to make her laugh if possible. If I succeed, Zenon will be happy, I’ll score points, and Nina will be in a better mood. Everyone wins. No one loses."

"…………………"

"If you want Nina to stay gloomy and miserable, then don’t help me. But if you want her to be a little happier and livelier, then help me."

"…………………"

No matter how much Mio spoke, Ignacio’s expression didn’t change. He continued to look down at her with irritation.

Mio clenched her teeth in frustration, forcing a strained smile as she folded her arms and stared back at him.

Silence.

—What’s with this guy?

Mio, now out of sheer stubbornness, vowed in her heart that she wouldn’t leave until Ignacio spoke. She glared at him, maintaining her smile.

Silence.

Ignacio remained motionless, and Mio refused to back down, staring each other down.

—I absolutely won’t lose.

Mio glared at Ignacio with all the contempt she could muster, silently criticizing him for his arrogance and rudeness in not replying when spoken to.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Ignacio’s thin lips parted.

"I can't trust someone from Urano."

The cold voice was within expectations, but at least he was capable of speaking, and it seemed that he could understand human language.

"Don’t you understand words? I was brought to Urano. I’m originally from St Vault. Due to various circumstances, I had no choice but to side with Urano. Don’t misunderstand."

"…………………"

"I'm only doing this because it's my job. I have no intention of harming Nina. I’d rather go about this half-heartedly and just play around, but Ulshyrra scolded me, so now I’m stuck here asking favours from someone as stuck-up as you. Don’t think I’m doing this willingly, talking to a self-important jerk like you."

As she explained to Ignacio, Mio found herself getting angrier. She wasn’t sure why she was putting so much effort into following Zenon’s orders.

—What am I even doing?

Reflecting calmly on her actions, she realized how absurd it was. She was being forced into a job she didn’t want, and now here she was, begging this stone-faced man for help just to do it. The frustration she had been bottling up began to surge uncontrollably, and she lashed out at the statue-like man standing in front of her.

"I don’t want to be involved with Nina. She barely talks, and having to make conversation with her is such a hassle."

"…………………"

"Why the hell do I have to lower my head and ask a narcissist like you for help? This is ridiculous. I wanted to stay with my friends in Air Hunt. I don’t care what Urano does with Nina, it’s none of my business. Why am I being forced to be her friend? It makes no sense."

"…………………"

As Mio continued to yell, including things that had nothing to do with Ignacio, her frustration began to overwhelm her, and her voice started to crack with tears. Sniffling, she vented her anger.

"I don’t care anymore! Let her do whatever she wants! Whether Nina stays locked up, gets depressed, or dies alone, it’s none of my concern! Just leave me out of it! You can stay here like a statue forever, staring at the ground. Don’t move. Ever. You all can just stay here like dried-up trees, standing around in this lonely palace until you die. It suits you. I don’t want any part of it, so I’m done. Zenon might get mad, but I don’t care anymore. Bye!"

With that, Mio kicked at the ground, turned her back on Ignacio, and stormed off, her shoulders tense.

She sensed no movement behind her. She stomped her way back to the servants' quarters, checked to make sure no one else was around, and then crouched against the wall, wiping away her tears.

"What am I doing?"

A surge of emotion, difficult to categorize, welled up inside her. Ignacio’s coldness had ignited a fuse, setting off an emotional explosion that had been building in her gut. Sniffling and wiping away her tears with her sleeve, Mio waited for the feelings to subside.

After a while, the tears finally stopped. Mio stood up, took a deep breath, and smoothed her hair with her fingers.

Nina and Ignacio didn’t matter. Who cares? It’s not her problem. She didn’t want to get involved with anyone. As long as she could pass the time peacefully in this mansion, that was enough.

She decided to sweep the garden. Picking up a broom, she stepped out of the servants' quarters into the garden, only to find Ignacio standing there, leaning against the wall.

"…………………"

Mio ignored him and started walking away.

"I won’t let down my guard."

Ignacio’s cold voice followed her back. But Mio didn’t turn around and instead walked around the back of the mansion to the wooded area, where she began sweeping the fallen leaves.

After an hour of sweeping the entire area, picking up every piece of debris, and stuffing them into a garbage bag, Ignacio appeared from the woods.

—Where does he keep coming from?

Suppressing the urge to point this out, Mio continued her work, pretending not to notice him.

"Don’t walk away when someone is talking to you."

Ignacio’s mechanical reprimand reached her ears.

Apparently, he was used to ignoring others but not to being ignored. "Serves him right," Mio thought, still not bothering to respond, as she briskly walked away with the garbage bag in hand.

After dumping the contents into the incinerator and putting away the cleaning tools, Mio filled a watering can and started watering the flowerbeds. From a distance, she saw Ignacio approaching with determined strides.

"I’ve been looking for you."

If you were looking, you could have just followed me. Suppressing the urge to point that out, Mio kept her eyes on the flowers.

"…What? I thought our conversation was over."

Her voice was deliberately low and cold as she spoke. For the first time that day, Ignacio’s expression twisted slightly as he turned his face away.

"…It’s not that I trust you. Don’t get the wrong idea."

What is he talking about?

Mio, still looking at the flowers, shot a retort at Ignacio, who was now staring off into the distance.

"Don’t jump to conclusions by yourself. You’re not explaining anything properly, so I don’t even know what you’re talking about. What don’t you trust, and what am I supposedly misunderstanding?"

"…I said I’d allow you to interact with Nina. As for how we ended up here, I can tell you what I’m allowed to share. …Is that unsatisfactory?"

His tone was still cold and indifferent, but it seemed he was finally opening up a little.

—What a difficult person...

He really is similar to Balthazar, Mio thought as she continued to look at the flowers, responding in a businesslike manner.

"That helps. But let’s go somewhere more suitable for talking."

"…There’s an air defence observation post on the hill. …It’ll do. …But first, correct one thing."

"…?"

Ignacio turned his eyes back to Mio, looking slightly awkward.

"…Don’t call me a narcissist."

Mio finally tore her gaze away from the flowers and looked up at Ignacio.

"…? Oh, the insult from earlier? What, did I hit a nerve?"

"…I have someone in my life who’s the real deal. When I hear that word, their face pops into my mind… and it pisses me off."

Apparently, despite his beautiful appearance, Ignacio was surprisingly childish on the inside.

—What a strange person.

Mio set the watering can down on the ground and looked at Ignacio with a sincere expression.

"Alright, then let’s go to that observation post. I’d like to hear more about the situation."

With that, Mio began to ascend the stone steps of the hillside, Ignacio’s stone-faced presence following behind her.

Near the top of the hill stood a wooden watchtower. Climbing the ladder to the top, they were greeted by a panoramic view of Pleiades.

From this vantage point, they could see the entire perimeter of the flying island and the blue sky beyond. It was a lookout point meant to provide early visual warnings of enemy aircraft.

As they stood side by side, gazing up at the deep blue summer sky, Ignacio began to tell Mio about Nina's past.

Leaning against the watchtower railing, Ignacio spoke of an unfamiliar country far removed from both the Mitterland and Vestelant continents. It was the tale of the "Flying Island" that had departed from that distant land.

Though Ignacio didn’t seem particularly skilled at conversation, Mio asked him detailed questions to piece together the story, listening intently to the account of a far-off world that felt like something out of a fairy tale.

The flying island "Isla," passing over the erupting sea of the "Sacred Spring," was suddenly attacked by the Urano airborne fleet.

Nina, hiding her true identity, had been attending the aviation department as a student, piloting aircraft. In the midst of the battle, she witnessed the deaths of many of her classmates. Although her power to call the wind had been lost by that time, Nina desperately wished to regain that ability to protect the people she cared about.

At the end of a journey filled with despair, during the final battle, Nina managed to recover her lost power and annihilated the Urano airborne fleet, saving Isla.

However, this event marked the discovery of the prophesied "Girl Who Calls the Wind" by Urano— a legendary figure foretold two thousand years ago.

Zenon Kavaris, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Urano, succeeded in inviting Nina Viento to the royal capital Pleiades as a goodwill ambassador, in exchange for the second heir to the throne, Manius Sidus, as a hostage.

Four years have passed since then.

Nina now spends her days in this lonely palace, awaiting the day when she will inevitably be thrust onto the political stage.

"Nina must have been forcibly brought here, separated from her friends too…"

After listening to Ignacio’s story, Mio muttered her thoughts aloud. The bundle of letters she had seen in Nina’s room the previous day had likely been farewell messages from her classmates on Isla.

A bittersweet feeling spread within Mio.

Though their circumstances were different, Mio couldn’t help but empathize with Nina. She, too, had been sent to Pleiades from Air Hunt Island, forced into espionage. She saw her own situation reflected in Nina's.

Mio sighed as she gazed down at the streets of Pleiades, exposed to the high-altitude air, and then turned to look at Ignacio’s profile.

"…I understand. Thank you. I might not be able to do much, but… I’d like to at least have some enjoyable conversations with Nina. She seems lonely…"

"…She tries to maintain a brave front, but over time, it’s clear that she’s becoming mentally exhausted. If nothing changes, it will take a toll on her health."

"Doesn’t she ever go out to have fun?"

"…She hasn’t."

"…Not even once in the past four years?"

"……………"

Ignacio’s awkward silence spoke volumes. Mio felt her frustration rising.

"…What’s that supposed to mean? Do people here really care about Nina? Why would they let things get this bad? Are they stupid?"

"…Nina is the only one who could rival Prince Demistri in terms of succession. There are many in the Urano royal court who wish to see her dead. If she were to roam the streets carelessly, her life would be in danger…"

"But when she attends official functions, she’s disguised with that silver wig and makeup, right? If she just goes out in regular clothes without the wig and makeup, no one would recognize her."

"The opposition forces—Prince Demistri’s supporters—are already well aware of Nina’s true face. Furthermore, Nina cannot leave the palace as a private citizen without the permission of the royal court. If we go through official channels, Demistri’s faction would know exactly when and where she’s going. They could easily send assassins to blend in with the crowd and eliminate her. The risk is too great."

Mio thought for a moment before looking up at Ignacio.

"I see… So all we need is a bodyguard, right?"

"……………………"

"If you’re the most experienced knight, surely you can protect Nina no matter how difficult the situation, right?"

"Hey…"

"You’re going to take Nina out to have fun and cheer her up. You wouldn’t seriously leave such an important job to a newcomer like me, would you? You were so diligent that you treated me like a suspicious person and threatened me on the first day. You’re so dedicated to keeping out intruders, so why not take your job more seriously?"

As Mio rattled off her words in one breath, Ignacio’s sullen expression deepened. With an air of righteousness, she criticized Ignacio and the rest of the palace staff for their negligence and lamented Nina’s isolation. Though Mio wasn’t particularly passionate about her work, the pent-up frustration she’d been harbouring since leaving Air Hunt Island found an outlet in her outburst at Ignacio.

Twenty minutes later, Ignacio finally gave in. Still facing the panoramic view of Pleiades, he sighed and, in a tired voice, agreed to seek permission for Nina’s outing and to serve as her bodyguard.

"…If you insist that much… I’ll let you accompany Nina. Since you’re both the same age, maybe you’ll be able to ease her loneliness."

Mio, with a triumphant expression, nodded but soon realized that she had perhaps gone too far. Ignacio had accepted her criticisms so earnestly that she couldn’t help but feel guilty for using him as a target for venting her accumulated stress.

But now that she had said all this, she had no choice but to follow through.

Mio resolved herself.

"Alright. Leave it to me. Now, where should we go? I’d love to go to Evangelis, but is there anywhere that’s both a tourist spot and easy to guard? I don’t know much about Pleiades…"

"Avoid crowded places. It’s best if I can keep a clear view of the surrounding ten meters at all times. The historical museum would be a good choice—open and not too crowded. Nina might find it interesting."

"But I’d also like to take her somewhere fun. If she laughs, then that’s mission accomplished, right?"

"If you decide on the location beforehand, I can arrange for plainclothes guards to be stationed in advance for protection. The royal court’s outing request form requires detailed information on the destination, but there’s no penalty for not adhering to it. We could submit a false destination to the royal court, while visiting a completely different place in reality. Assassins wouldn’t be able to set up an ambush."

"Yeah, we’ll be fine. With a skilled personal knight guarding us, Nina will be safe. We could go see a movie or a play, stop by a trendy restaurant, or do some shopping on the main street. Nina is still a girl, after all—she probably wants some cute accessories or clothes, and I’m sure she’d enjoy eating something delicious, too."

Mio and Ignacio put their heads together and continued to discuss how to safely and enjoyably take Nina out on a trip.

As they brainstormed and refined their ideas, Mio found herself enjoying the process. It had been a long time since she’d allowed herself to think ahead to something enjoyable like this. Feeling a rare sense of excitement, Mio spent the entire morning planning the trip to Pleiades with Ignacio, and they finally completed their plan for a sightseeing excursion with Nina.

One week later.

On a clear morning in early July, Mio climbed into a two-horse carriage waiting at the front gate of the palace. She wore a dress with a short bolero jacket trimmed with lace and low-heeled sandals. Smiling, she greeted the guest sitting across from her.

"I’m glad the weather’s so nice today. Nina, let’s enjoy ourselves!"

"…Yes."

Nina responded with her usual faint, unsteady voice.

Without her wig, makeup, or the nun-like outfit she usually wore, Nina Viento was dressed simply in a plain white blouse and a navy skirt. She sat stiffly in the narrow seat, her posture straight.

Since using an elaborate carriage would draw too much attention, they had rented a modest two-person carriage, like those commonly used by the public, for today’s outing. The interior was cramped enough that Mio’s and Nina’s knees bumped against each other.

"I’ve never really had the chance to explore Pleiades before, so I’m not much of a guide. But let’s make the most of it today!"

"…Yes."

Nina didn’t seem at all excited, and Mio could sense that she had resigned herself to treating this as "just another duty." It was as if Nina had completely given up her own will, accustomed to being used and manipulated by others.

—I hope she can at least feel a little better…

—I need to stay cheerful too, otherwise, it’ll defeat the purpose.

Mio herself hadn’t felt genuinely happy in the past year. She had been living under the weight of heavy emotions, suppressing her true self. But today, with the task of cheering up Nina, she was determined to act bright and energetic, even if she had to force it.

Glancing out the window, Mio waved to Countess Ulshyrra, who stood nearby, seeing them off.

"Thank you for everything. We’ll be on our way now."

Ulshyrra had handled all the troublesome bureaucratic procedures of submitting and receiving the royal court’s approval for the outing request. She had also assured Mio that, if questioned later about the false destination provided to the court, she would handle it.

"Take care, Mio. Miss Nina, please return safely."

Ulshyrra’s farewell was tinged with a sense of solemnity, as if she were seeing off soldiers heading into battle. Nina nodded slightly, her soft voice answering.

"We’ll be on our way."

"Ignacio, I’m counting on you as well."

Ulshyrra called out to Ignacio, who stood behind the carriage.

"Leave it to me."

Dressed in a thick tunic and riding breeches, Ignacio sat astride an ash-coloured horse, responding from the saddle. His gear was simple, and a short sword hung at his waist, giving him the appearance of a bored nobleman out for a casual ride. Twelve plainclothes guards had already been deployed at the various locations they planned to visit, ready to keep a close eye out for any suspicious individuals.

They had prepared as best they could.

All that was left was to enjoy the day.

Mio turned to the driver and called out.

"Let’s go."

The whip cracked through the morning air, and the carriage slowly began to move.

"Miss Nina, please stay strong."

"We’ll be waiting for your safe return."

Those seeing them off continued to wave with grand gestures as Nina left Lamia Palace.

After leaving Lamia Palace, the carriage descended along a narrow mountain path, passing by the guard station midway down the mountain. As they continued downward, the view opened up to reveal the plains on the left bank of Pleiades.

In the distance, towering white cumulonimbus clouds stood out against the blue sky. Beyond the olive groves and along the well-trodden main road, the high-rise buildings of the Evangelis district loomed, hazy in the midsummer air.

As she gazed out the window, Mio casually spoke up.

"Nina, have you been to Evangelis before?"

"…For official duties, a few times. …But this is my first time as a private citizen."

"I’ve never been there either, so I’m not familiar with the area at all. Let’s get lost together!"

Mio said this jokingly with a smile, and Nina gave a small, awkward smile in return, almost like a polite laugh.

—Well, at least we can communicate socially…

Mio had already discovered that much in her previous attempts to get closer to Nina. However, whenever she tried to take a step beyond the surface, it felt as though her words were absorbed by an invisible barrier around Nina, preventing any real emotional response. Today’s goal was to break through that barrier and reach Nina’s true feelings.

Nina’s faint smile quickly faded, and only the sounds of birds chirping and the gentle clopping of the horses’ hooves filled the silence between them. As the carriage rounded a bend in the road, the summer sunlight streamed in, illuminating Nina’s pale profile.

—Still, she really is beautiful…

Sitting so close, with their knees nearly touching, Mio couldn’t help but admire Nina’s delicate beauty. Her lustrous black hair and pure, grape-coloured eyes seemed fragile, as though they could shatter if touched too roughly. With such striking features, if Nina had lived a normal student life, she surely would have been very popular.

—Did she ever have a lover?

From the story Ignacio had told Mio a week earlier, there had been no mention of anyone like that, and Mio hadn’t asked. Ignacio had said, "There are things I can’t tell you. If you want to find out, ask Nina herself. It’s up to her whether or not she talks." So perhaps there had been a romantic story during her time on the flying island Isla.

—She’s so beautiful, sweet-natured, and modest…

—And she lived the life of a student. It wouldn’t be surprising if she had a lover…

Though Mio knew it was a bit presumptuous to speculate, she couldn’t help but think about it. After all, they were both teenage girls, and love stories were always a great topic for casual conversation, especially when it came to noble affairs.

After about an hour, the carriage finally entered the Evangelis district.

The road was now paved with stone, and traffic had increased. Four-horse and eight-horse carriages carrying wealthy passengers, hydrogen-powered vehicles, double-decker buses, and armoured cars passed by. The people walking along the streets wore bright, vibrant clothing, and there was no sense of mourning for the king, who had passed away just a week earlier. Instead, happy smiles bloomed on the faces of the citizens wherever they went.

—It’s really like a paradise here. But…

—This wealth is built on the wars being waged on the ground below…

Urano had a long history of lending its aerial combat forces to ground nations for a reasonable fee. In exchange, Urano inserted its personnel into the political core of the borrower nations, eventually turning them into satellite states. These puppet nations would then wreak havoc on others, seizing their underground resources and funnelling them to Urano, a resource-poor nation. Behind the smiles of the people outside the carriage window lay the corpses of countless ground-dwellers.

For a brief moment, the image of a burning Air Hunt Island overlapped with the scene of Evangelis before her. The familiar officer academy had gone up in flames, the town where she’d spent time with friends had been reduced to ashes, and countless innocent people had been killed. Mio wondered if the people walking these streets were aware that their happiness was built on such horrors.

—And now, I’ve become a pawn of Urano…

Mio bit her lip and clenched her fists.

Her chest ached. The more idyllic the scenery outside seemed, the deeper the pain in her heart grew.

"…Are you alright?"

A sudden voice from across the carriage snapped her out of her thoughts.

"…What?"

Nina’s emotionless face was staring directly at her.

"You don’t seem well… Is something wrong?"

Nina must have thought Mio was feeling ill. Mio hurriedly forced a smile and responded.

"Oh, I’m fine. I was just thinking about the past, that’s all."

"……………………"

"Thank you for your concern. We should be arriving at our first stop soon, I’m looking forward to it!"

"…Yes. …Um…"

"Yes?"

"…If you’re not feeling well, you don’t have to push yourself to accompany me…"

Nina spoke hesitantly, lacking confidence. Mio quickly waved her hands in front of her, trying to dismiss the concern.

"No, no, I’m not pushing myself at all! In fact, I was probably more excited about this than you were! I could hardly sleep last night!"

Mio laughed awkwardly, trying to lighten the mood, and Nina gave another small, awkward smile. It seemed that Nina was more considerate than Mio had originally thought.

She’s such a kind person.

Mio thought this with a sense of warmth. As they left the palace, she had noticed how worried the staff had been for Nina, and now she understood why. They weren’t just doing their jobs; they genuinely cared about her.

—She’s not arrogant or proud at all… It makes sense why people would be so fond of her.

Just as Mio was coming to this realization, the carriage came to a stop, and the driver turned around to announce their arrival. Mio cheerfully opened the door.

"We’re here! It’s an outdoor pool, Nina!"

"P-Pool…?"

"Yes! It’s one of Pleiades’ famous spots! Don’t worry, we’ve got swimsuits ready! Let’s swim and relieve some stress!"

"Ah… I see…"

Nina nodded awkwardly, still looking a bit bewildered.

The sky was a brilliant blue, dotted with cumulonimbus clouds, and the sound of splashing water and children’s laughter filled the air.

The Royal Pool Park, a popular attraction in Evangelis, was packed with nearly a hundred men, women, and children in swimsuits. The park featured five pools of various sizes, a water slide nearly twenty meters high and two hundred meters long, and plenty of water, thanks to a pump system that drew seawater from two thousand meters below. It was a popular amusement park, offering fun for both children and adults.

Against the backdrop of the deep blue summer sky, Nina and Mio stood by the pool, now dressed in their swimsuits.

"Nina, you look amazing!"

"……………………"

"I made sure we had matching swimsuits! I asked Ulshyrra for your size, and they fit perfectly! You look absolutely stunning!"

Mio was genuinely excited. Both of them wore matching two-piece swimsuits with pareos tied around their waists. Nina, with her fairy-like beauty and perfect figure, looked as if she had stepped right out of a storybook.

"Here I go!"

With a shout, Mio jumped into the pool. Water splashed up, bubbles rose to the surface, and soon Mio’s smiling face appeared above the water.

"It feels great! Nina, come in!"

"……………………"

Nina, still wearing a stiff expression, remained by the poolside, hesitant to move. Mio wondered if Nina might not know how to swim, but just as she began to worry, Nina sat down on the edge of the pool, cautiously dipped her toes into the water, and then slowly lowered herself in, submerging up to her shoulders as if she were taking a bath.

"…It feels nice…"

She said this expressionlessly, not really looking like she was enjoying herself. Having spent so much time shut away at the top of a tower, Nina might have felt uncomfortable exposing herself in such a lively and public place. Mio began to think that perhaps the pool had been too bold a choice for their first outing, but she smiled and encouraged Nina.

"Let’s swim! A little exercise will make you feel better!"

"…Yes, that's true."

Seeing Nina faintly smile, Mio resumed her slow breaststroke, her face still above the water.

It felt wonderful. The ripples she created glistened in the strong sunlight, reflecting its rays in all directions. The water that touched her lips tasted salty, and the scent of the sea carried on the breeze. Mio glanced behind her to see Nina following along with the same breaststroke as they both swam the full twenty-five meters.

As Mio reached the pool’s edge, setting her feet on the bottom and taking a deep breath, she heard a voice from beside her.

"Are you both here by yourselves? How about joining us for some tea?"

Startled, Mio turned to her right, where two young noblemen, their blonde hair slicked back, smiled suavely at them.

Ah, great…

Mio sighed inwardly, letting it sink to the pool’s bottom.

She had expected this sort of encounter the moment she saw Nina in her swimsuit, but the appearance of these types had happened much sooner than she'd anticipated. Just like the men back in St Vault, it seemed that men in Urano also couldn’t help but flirt with women as naturally as they breathed.

One of the noblemen, brushing his hair back in an exaggerated manner, invited them in a practiced, confident tone.

"You two are truly beautiful. It’s hard to believe any commoners would leave you unprotected. We would be honoured to offer our services and safeguard you."

Nina, who had just caught up to Mio, stood frozen, confused. The other nobleman quickly approached Nina, mimicking his companion’s gesture by brushing back his wet silver hair.

"It would be a tragedy if some filthy commoner were to lay a hand on you. Please, allow me to protect this delicate flower."

Ugh…

Mio barely suppressed a groan, about to politely reject their offer, when she realized she didn’t need to.

Standing before Nina, clad in swim trunks, was her personal knight, Ignacio, his fierce gaze stabbing into the two noblemen.

"……………………"

He didn’t say a word, but the palpable aura of hostility radiating from Ignacio was almost visible.

The noblemen hesitated, taking a small step back. Even Mio hadn’t noticed Ignacio’s approach—he was that stealthy. It wasn’t surprising that these clueless outsiders had been caught off guard.

Moreover, with his upper body exposed, Ignacio’s physical strength was plainly evident. Though not overly muscular, his lean, well-trained physique was as hard as iron. His body was crisscrossed with scars—old wounds covering his arms, chest, shoulders, and abdomen.

Mio immediately recognized them as battlefield injuries: slashes, stabs, and even gunshot wounds. Most were on the front of his body, with few on his back. She could only assume they were scars from battles fought while protecting Nina.

"…Excuse us. I just remembered we have a meeting…"

"…I have some business as well…"

Clearly understanding that they had encountered someone not to be trifled with, the two noblemen quickly turned away and gracefully swam off.

Ignacio, now directing a reproachful look at Mio, remained silent.

"……………………"

Still, he didn’t utter a word, but his expression clearly said, "This is why I told you not to come to the pool."

Mio was briefly taken aback, but quickly recovered, meeting his glare with one of her own. After all, she had chosen this pool park as their first destination, ignoring Ignacio's objections to get them here.

"What’s with that look? There’s nothing wrong with the pool; we’re having fun."

"……………………"

"If you have something to say, say it like a man. Stop giving me that annoying look—it’s getting on my nerves."

Mio fired back at him, and Ignacio let out an exaggerated, sarcastic sigh, before finally muttering in a low, reluctant voice.

"I told you not to come to the pool… not just because of Nina… but because of you as well."

"Me? Why me?"

Mio asked, genuinely confused. Ignacio’s face contorted even further, clearly uncomfortable, as he averted his gaze and answered.

"When you and Nina are together… you attract too much attention. Discreetly observe your surroundings."

Taking his hint, Mio glanced around. Families and groups of young people were swimming and having fun, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary at first glance.

"…Focus on the young men. Pay attention to them."

Following Ignacio’s advice, Mio subtly shifted her gaze to the younger men in the area.

And then she saw it.

Several of them were indeed glancing over in their direction. Their eyes were fixed not just on Nina, but on Mio as well. As she quickly scanned the area, she made eye contact with a few young men, and an uncomfortable chill ran down her spine, raising goosebumps.

Without thinking, Mio sank into the water up to her shoulders and looked up at Ignacio.

"They’re staring… but do you think they recognize Nina?"

"…No. Are you really that unaware? It’s you they’re looking at. Even in normal clothes, you attract attention, but in a swimsuit…"

Ignacio’s hesitant words finally made sense to Mio, who had been too dense to catch on earlier.

It had been the same back at the Air Hunt Academy.

Despite not seeking it, many of the male students had approached Mio, asking her out. During her time as one of the "Seven of Eriadore," Mio had often received compliments about her appearance. Even Zenon had focused on training her as a spy, using her looks as a weapon. Having been judged this way her whole life, Mio wasn’t entirely unaware of how her appearance affected men.

But still…

She felt a sudden surge of irritation. She glared at Ignacio, her shoulders still submerged in the water.

"What’s your point? If you don’t want Nina getting hit on, then you should be protecting her more closely. If you were always by her side, no one would approach. The only reason those guys came near her is because you weren’t close enough. Do your job properly."

"……………………"

"Right, Nina? Swimming’s fun, isn’t it? It feels great, doesn’t it?"

When Mio turned to Nina, she looked slightly startled but nodded timidly.

"…Yes. It’s been a while since I’ve gone swimming… and it feels nice."

Nina’s response was soft and hesitant. Still, Mio, now fully immersed in the water, clenched her right fist and pumped it triumphantly in Ignacio’s direction.

"Yep, I win! We’re going to keep swimming. You stay close and keep anyone with bad intentions away from Nina. We didn’t buy matching swimsuits for nothing—there’s still plenty of swimming left to do!"

"……………………"

Ignacio grimaced, biting his lip as if to hold back a retort. In response, Mio stuck her tongue out playfully and, turning to Nina, began swimming breaststroke once more.

"Get a grip, please…"

Watching the two girls swim off, Ignacio clicked his tongue in frustration before reluctantly following behind them with a slow breaststroke.

Ignacio was well aware of how much attention Nina attracted. But Mio, with her equally captivating appearance, perhaps drew even more stares. He had sensed it from the moment they first met, but in a place like this, where their figures were fully revealed, it was almost as if Mio’s allure held a magnetic force. Since they had arrived, young men, fathers with families, and even older gentlemen had all cast lingering, inappropriate glances at her body.

—That’s probably why Zenon took notice of her, too.

For a female spy, the ability to attract men was a powerful weapon in itself. Mio had mentioned she’d been forcibly brought to Urano from St Vault, and it was clear that her current situation was against her will. Through their interactions, Ignacio had begun to pick up on the complex circumstances lying beneath the surface of Mio’s past.

"She’s such a strange girl… really…"

Though he could resign himself to it for Nina’s sake, Ignacio couldn’t help but feel a twinge of resentment that he had to guard Mio as well. Nonetheless, his battle-hardened body served as a shield, protecting the two girls from the relentless stares of the men around them.

Thanks to Ignacio’s literal bodyguarding, Nina and Mio swam happily for over an hour until they were both thoroughly exhausted.

"Ahhh… that was a good swim… I feel amazing… Pools are the best!"

Lying on a deck chair by the pool, her wet body stretched out, Mio lazily stretched as she held a popsicle she had bought from the snack stand.

"Nina, are you okay? Did we swim too much?"

"No… It’s been a long time since I exercised, but… it was fun."

Nina, sitting primly on a deck chair next to Mio, gave an awkward smile and took a small lick of the vanilla ice cream in her hand.

"Wow, I’m probably going to get sunburned… but it’s fine, the sun feels so good!"

Mio stretched out completely, her pale skin exposed to the strong sunlight as she settled into a perfect nap position. Nina, somewhat absentmindedly, glanced at Mio’s body. Her eyes were drawn to a large scar peeking out from beneath the pareo wrapped around Mio’s left thigh.

"……………………"

It was an incongruous mark on Mio’s otherwise flawless skin. As Nina’s eyes lingered on the scar, Mio turned to her.

"Nina, you should lie down too—wait, what’s wrong?"

"Oh, nothing… I’m sorry."

Nina awkwardly averted her gaze as Mio noticed the old scar peeking out from under her pareo.

"Oh, this? I got it a long time ago when I was flying in an airship and some debris got lodged in my leg. Believe it or not, I’ve been on the battlefield before," Mio said with a carefree laugh. Nina hesitantly returned her gaze and spoke quietly.

"…I’m sorry."

"Why are you apologizing? It’s what they call an "honourable wound." I lost a lot of blood and almost died, but my comrades saved me…"

As Mio explained, memories of her companions aboard the Eriadore airship suddenly surfaced.

Back then—Mio had been gravely injured on her left side, and with little hope of survival due to blood loss, her six crewmates risked everything to attempt a dangerous night landing on water. It was Kiyoaki who had insisted on the landing, taking charge and successfully pulling it off.

Thanks to Kiyoaki, Mio was alive today.

This scar was a reminder of that time.

"…Because of that… I survived…"

Mio tried to put on a brave front, attempting to keep her tone light, but it wasn’t working.

Sadness, guilt, and regret welled up from deep inside, and her face twisted as she struggled to hold back the emotions.

—Kiyoaki.

Just thinking of him made it impossible for her to remain composed.

Turning her face away from Nina, Mio tried to hide her emotional turmoil.

"Um… really, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to pry into your personal matters," Nina said in her soft, apologetic tone from behind. Her words weren’t mere formalities; Mio could tell that Nina was genuinely sorry. Trying to control her feelings, Mio turned back toward Nina.

"No, no, it’s not a big deal. I just got lost in some memories, that’s all."

"……………………"

Nina, looking deeply concerned, furrowed her brow as she watched Mio. It was clear that Nina was genuinely worried about her, probably because Mio’s distress had been so visible.

—She’s so kind…

Mio was moved by Nina’s kindness. Despite her position as a potential heir to Urano, Nina was considerate of someone like Mio, who was essentially just a servant.

"…I had some really good friends. They risked their lives to save me. I just remembered that and got a little sentimental."

Mio tried to make light of it, flashing a shy smile.

Nina’s expression softened a little, and she nodded once.

"…I see. They must have been wonderful friends."

"Heh, it’s kind of embarrassing. But yes, they were great friends."

As she replied, a wave of strong emotion surged again, and Mio felt a stinging sensation in her eyes. Not wanting Nina to notice, Mio quickly took a big bite of her ice cream, wiped her eyes, and then stood up with renewed energy.

"Alright! We still have a lot on the schedule today! Nina, let’s go try some of Pleiades’ famous food!"

"Famous food… in Pleiades?"

"Yes! It’s something called ramen! I’ve never had it before either, but the gardeners at the palace were all raving about how delicious it is! Apparently, it’s a type of noodle dish from a distant ground nation, but it’s become really popular here."

"…Ramen…"

Nina murmured the word, her expression showing a hint of surprise.

"…Yes. I know it. …I know of some… very special ramen."

For someone as reserved as Nina, her reaction was unusually enthusiastic, nodding with more vigour than usual.

"Oh, really? It’s not something we have in my country, so I’m not sure if it will suit your tastes, but would you like to try it?"

Nina slowly stood up from her deck chair.

"…Yes. …I’d like to go. …I really like ramen."

"Ah, okay. Let’s get changed and head out then…"

At the mere mention of ramen, Nina’s demeanour shifted. For once, she was clearly expressing her own desires. Mio, somewhat taken aback by this, headed toward the changing room. It seemed Nina might be quite particular about ramen.

It appeared that Nina was particular about ramen.

"……………………"

"Um… Nina? Are you feeling alright?"

After taking a single bite, Nina had gripped her chopsticks tightly, staring down at her bowl of ramen with a sorrowful expression.

Puzzled, Mio took a second bite of her own ramen.

It tasted fine. In fact, it was delicious—a new dish she had never experienced before. The rich aroma of seafood, the savory char siu, and the smooth, slurpable noodles were all tantalizing.

The ramen shop they had chosen, located on the main street of Evangelis, was quite popular. It was bustling with customers, and many were seated at the open terrace, happily digging into their bowls. Given that all the palace gardeners had recommended the place, it was no surprise that it was so successful.

"I think it’s really good… Does it not suit your tastes, Nina?"

Nina had barely eaten a single bite, and yet she remained motionless, staring sadly at the contents of her bowl.

Was she allergic to something? Though Nina was generally expressionless, her eyes now seemed to carry a mix of sadness and faint disappointment.

Perhaps Nina, accustomed to finer dining, wasn’t used to commoner food like this. In hindsight, Mio wondered if she should have chosen a more upscale restaurant.

Sensing Mio’s concern, Nina glanced up at her.

"As I mentioned earlier… I do like ramen. Mio, did you enjoy this ramen?"

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Mio was momentarily confused. Still, she appreciated that Nina was finally speaking her mind, so she nodded honestly.

"Ah, yes… I think it’s really tasty."

"…I see…"

Nina turned back to her ramen and took a second bite. It was unusual for Nina, but she ate it in a slightly more vigorous manner.

After carefully chewing, Nina fixed Mio with a determined gaze.

"…What are our plans for the rest of the day?"

"Huh? Oh, um, well, after this, we’ll go shopping, try the famous crepes, then catch a monster movie at the theatre, and finally have dinner at a restaurant before heading back."

"Um… Mio."

"Yes?"

"…Could we… cancel all of those plans?"

"What, cancel?"

"…If possible."

Nina’s expression was serious, almost pleading.

"Uh… well, if that’s what you want, we can definitely cancel. But do you want to head back already?"

"No, I wanted to go shopping for ingredients for tonight’s dinner."

"Huh? Dinner preparations…?"

Nina glanced up at Mio, her gaze unusually firm for her, and she nodded.

"…I want to make the ramen I know for you, Mio."

"Wait… I’m going to eat it?"

"…Yes. …Please allow me to treat you to it."

This was a completely unexpected development. Mio had considered many scenarios while planning today’s outing, but this was definitely not one of them.

Mio glanced over her shoulder.

Seated at the next table, Ignacio had his arms crossed, glaring at his bowl of ramen.

"…So, we’re good?"

"…We follow Nina’s will."

"…Right."

Nina was clearly expressing her own wishes. This was the first time Mio had seen her like this. Given that the whole point of today’s outing was to make Nina happy, it seemed only right to let her do what she wanted.

Mio smiled.

"Alright, got it. I’m happy to go along with you. So, where should we go to buy the ingredients?"

"Igna... please lead the way."

"Understood."

Ignacio rose from his seat, clearly familiar with the geography of Pleiades. He swiftly settled the bill and led the group down the main street. Following close behind, Nina and Mio soon arrived at a massive marketplace.

"This is the Evangelis Market, known for offering every kind of food ingredient from the ground."

"Thank you for your efforts. Let's go, Mio."

"Ah, yes..."

Despite her role as the guide, Mio found herself being guided, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the bustling market.

The market was enormous, an open-air bazaar teeming with goods. As expected of Urano, which traded with ground nations worldwide, the stalls were piled high with exotic vegetables, fruits, meats, and spices that Mio had never seen before.

The smell of roasting meat and fish was so strong it seemed to cling to her clothes. The smoke from grilled food mixed with the scent of various spices, making Mio's stomach rumble as she walked. The market was chaotic, with children running between the stalls, vendors shouting their sales pitches, and street performers like organ players and puppet shows adding to the noise. Despite all this, Nina walked confidently through the crowd, completely unfazed.

Mio had expected Nina to be a sheltered aristocrat, but here in the midst of the common folk, Nina seemed at ease. In fact, she even looked more relaxed and natural than in the confines of the palace. Maybe Nina had grown up in a place like this, among ordinary people. After all, her status as an heir to Urano was due to her power as the "Wind Caller," not because she was born into nobility.

"Nina seems comfortable in places like this, huh?"

Mio whispered the question to Ignacio, who was following closely for protection. The usually silent knight simply nodded, his focus entirely on watching for any threats that might approach Nina.

Nina carefully examined the items at each stall, picking up ingredients and thoroughly inspecting them. She seemed to be paying close attention to their freshness, colour, and smell, without worrying much about their appearance. It was clear she knew her way around selecting good ingredients.

While Mio had originally expected them to shop for cute clothes, Nina was more focused on practical items like chicken bones, pork bones, and other rather unglamorous ingredients. It was a surprising sight to see someone of her status purchasing such rustic items, but Mio quietly followed along, loading everything into a basket.

Apples, cabbage, onions, green onions, garlic, ginger, pork bones, and chicken bones... Soon, Mio’s hands were full.

"Let me carry some," Nina offered with a surprisingly matter-of-fact tone, but Mio shook her head.

"No, I’m the assistant. Let me do my job."

"……………………"

"I was trained at the officer’s academy, so this is nothing for me."

"Igna."

Nina glanced at Ignacio, and with a silent look, he reached out to take one of Mio’s baskets.

"Give it to me."

But Mio stepped back, refusing his help.

"Your job is to protect Nina. You can’t do that if your hands are full. I’ve got this."

"This is more than one girl should carry. Hand over half."

"Listen, I can walk for two days with a 20-kilo pack on my back. I didn’t finish my training, but I was a cadet. This is nothing."

Mio grinned as she teased Ignacio, then turned back to Nina with a smile.

"Nina, don’t hold back! Buy everything you need! I can’t wait to see what kind of dinner you’ll make!"

Mio cheerfully took the lead, encouraging Nina. Nina and Ignacio exchanged glances and nodded at each other. Ignacio gestured to one of the plainclothes guards stationed nearby.

"Mio, hand over the bags to him. He’ll take them back to the Lamia Palace."

"Huh? Is that okay? Won’t that leave you with fewer guards?"

"It’s fine. We’re almost done with the shopping. A few less guards won’t make much difference."

"He says it’s fine."

"…I can’t stand watching this. Hand them over."

At Ignacio’s command, the guard approached and almost forcefully took the baskets from Mio.

Now empty-handed, Mio watched the guard walk away with the bags before glancing up at Ignacio with a bemused expression.

"So, you can’t stand seeing a girl carry heavy things, huh?"

"…Not for you. Nina worries about you."

"Uh-huh… Well, okay, fine. But more importantly—"

Mio paused, then smirked playfully at Ignacio.

"This is the first time you’ve called me by my name."

Ignacio’s expression darkened, looking away awkwardly.

"…It’s not because I wanted to. It’s part of my job. Don’t misunderstand."

Mio burst out laughing, remembering how Balthazar had often said the same thing.

—He’s not a bad guy. He just has a rough way of talking.

She didn’t say it out loud, but she had realized that. Smiling, she turned back to Nina.

"Thank you for your consideration! Now that I’m free, we can shop for even more! Let’s make the most of today!"

"…Yes. Let’s finish getting everything we need."

With that, Nina, looking slightly more confident, continued her shopping. She discussed her purchases with the merchants, picking out what she needed. Mio watched as large pots, mesh bags, and oversized kitchen utensils were gathered—things too big to carry. The guards quietly took them away.

After two hours of walking through the market, Nina finally nodded and turned to Mio.

"…We have everything. …Let’s return to the Lamia Palace."

"Ah, yes. Time to start cooking, right? Let me help!"

Mio playfully rolled up her sleeves, ready to assist, as they headed back to the carriage together.

Back at the palace, they brought the ingredients and tools into the kitchen, and Nina began cooking.

Mio couldn’t help but find Nina’s apron-clad appearance adorable, enough to make anyone want to give her a hug. However, the actual cooking process was far from cute. It was a brutal, blood-and-grease-filled task as Nina skilfully hammered apart the grotesque pork bones and washed the chunks of meat with precision. Blood and fat splattered across her apron, but Nina remained unfazed, entirely focused on her task.

It was a scene far removed from what you’d expect of a princess, and Mio instinctively offered to help.

"Uh, if you need me to do that kind of thing, just say the word."

"No… If I don’t do this part myself, it will affect the flavour."

"But you’re getting really messy…"

"…Mio."

"Yes?"

"…Could you chop the green onions? After that, mince the onions. Then, please remove the roots from the bean sprouts."

Holding a bloodied hammer in one hand, her face and forehead splattered with pork bone residue, Nina calmly entrusted Mio with these basic tasks.

"Ah… Sure, no problem?"

"…Yes. It’s an important job. …Please."

It seemed Nina didn’t want any interference. Mio, a little disappointed not to be doing more impressive work, obediently went to the corner of the kitchen and quietly chopped vegetables.

Nina threw the prepped pork bones into a large pot and started boiling them, stirring the bubbling broth with a massive ladle, her expression as blank as ever. Watching her, Mio couldn’t help but feel like she was observing a witch brewing a mysterious potion. Despite her curiosity about what kind of dish would come from this, she also felt a bit nervous about whether it would be edible.

—No matter what it tastes like, I’ll have to say it’s good, right?

—My acting skills aren’t the best… Maybe I should practice.

As she chopped vegetables, Mio mentally rehearsed how she would complement the dish, imagining the worst possible meal and repeating lines like "This is delicious, Nina!" and "I’ve never tasted anything this good!" Even if the food turned out terrible, Mio was determined to lie convincingly to make Nina happy.

And so, she continued to chop vegetables and help skim the broth, preparing herself for the upcoming meal.

The cooking process took an astonishing six hours.

Mio now understood why Nina had cut the outing short—it was a time commitment far beyond what one would expect for a single meal.

It was 8:30 PM.

Mio sat at the grand dining table, trying to ignore her growling stomach. Nina had insisted that not only she but also the live-in helpers and gardeners join for dinner to enjoy the meal she had prepared. It was an unusual arrangement, as it was unheard of for the master of the house to sit at the same table as the servants, but Nina seemed to detest being put on a pedestal. She was always polite and respectful toward the staff, never lording her status over them. It was as if Nina had no regard for social hierarchy, much to the confusion of those who served her.

Since Nina wanted to share her cooking with the staff, there was no refusing. In fact, this was the first "party" since Nina had arrived at Lamia Palace, and the expressions of the gathered helpers and gardeners reflected more anxiety than anticipation.

—Even if it's bad, we have to say it's delicious.

It was as if that unspoken sentiment was radiating from everyone present. The smell that had filled the palace during Nina's cooking—reminiscent of a barn or pigsty—had already dampened any hope they might have had.

Just then, the doors to the grand dining hall swung open, and Nina entered, followed by her knights.

"Thank you for your patience. It's ready."

Nine knights took on the role of servers, placing steaming bowls in front of the helpers and gardeners seated at the table. It was a curious sight—humble servants gathered at a grand table illuminated by silver candlesticks, with "the Heir to Urano" Nina, and... ramen. Nina, however, remained serious, ensuring that everyone was served before taking her seat at the head of the table.

"I am always grateful for your hard work. I have been looking forward to this opportunity. I hope that tonight you can forget your duties and enjoy yourselves."

Her soft but clear voice carried over the table as she folded her hands in prayer.

"Thank you for today's blessings. May Saint Aldista bless this meal."

The servants echoed the prayer, inwardly adding their own wish: "May I be able to lie convincingly," before turning to face the labour of Nina's cooking.

A rich, cloudy white broth, medium-thick noodles, a slice of char siu, green onions, and bean sprouts—simple ingredients, but neatly arranged.

—It doesn’t look bad, at least.

Mio carefully observed the bowl before picking up her chopsticks. Having spent her youth in the Akitsu Federation, she was no stranger to using them. The other servants, being from a region known for its cultural diversity, also handled the foreign utensils with ease.

—The smell... maybe I’ve gotten used to it.

The pungent animal odour that had been unbearable during cooking seemed less offensive now. Perhaps the ginger had effectively masked it. Mio cautiously lifted some noodles to her mouth.

—Even if it tastes bad, I’ll pretend it’s good!

—No matter how bad it is...

Her thoughts were cut off.

"…Huh?"

When Mio came to her senses, she found an empty bowl in front of her.

Confused, she looked around. The three helpers and five gardeners who had also been served Nina's ramen all sat with blank expressions, staring up at the ceiling, with empty bowls before them.

—Did I... eat it?

She couldn’t recall anything after taking the first bite.

She had no memory of whether the food was good or bad—there was a complete gap in her recollection.

However, even though her mind had forgotten, her body hadn’t.

Tentatively, one of the gardeners seated across from Mio raised his head.

"Um… excuse me, but…"

He started to speak, but his words faltered. Another servant, sitting beside him, followed suit, glancing nervously at the knight who had served them.

"I… apologize for asking, but… um…"

The one who responded was Nina herself, sitting at the head of the table.

"I made extra. Please, don’t hesitate to ask for more if you’re still hungry."

The moment Nina spoke, everyone at the table reacted as if possessed, raising their right hands.

"Ah?!"

Mio was shocked to find her own hand raised without her conscious decision. Her body had responded instinctively to the overwhelming urge for more food. It was an experience unlike any she had ever had.

The knights brought more bowls.

Mio’s hands trembled as she held her chopsticks.

—What is this? I can’t wait!

She couldn’t suppress the primal craving within her. Despite having just eaten, her stomach growled as if she hadn’t eaten for days, eagerly awaiting another bowl of Nina's ramen.

As soon as the second bowl was placed in front of her, Mio dove in, determined to remain aware of her actions this time.

This time, she took a bite, focusing intently on the taste.

"…Mmm…"

To her surprise, what escaped her lips was an involuntary moan of pleasure. Shocked by her own reaction, Mio couldn’t stop herself from continuing to eat.

She glanced up at Nina, seated at the head of the table, who was calmly eating her own bowl while observing the servants devour their ramen with fervour. Her quiet demeanour made her seem as if she existed on a different plane of reality.

—A witch…!

There was no doubt in Mio’s mind now that Nina had used some form of magic. How else could food have such a powerful effect? As she continued eating, Mio felt a sense of awe and fear at Nina’s ability.

—She doesn’t just control the wind; she can control our senses too…!

Terrified yet mesmerized, Mio finished her second bowl.

"Ahem… Nina, this is... is this some kind of magic?"

As the dishes were being cleared away and everyone sat in a dazed state, enjoying dessert, Mio gathered the courage to ask Nina, who was quietly eating her melon.

Nina shook her head and wiped her mouth with a handkerchief before looking at Mio with her usual expressionless face.

"No. I simply followed the recipe taught to me by a friend, carefully and precisely."

Mio couldn’t believe it.

"But… this is beyond anything I’ve ever tasted…!"

As someone who loved cooking, Mio couldn’t accept it. It defied her understanding of what was possible in the culinary arts.

Nina’s answer was simple.

"When my friend makes it, it’s even better."

A faint smile appeared on Nina’s face. She gazed off into the distance as if remembering something, her voice softening.

"I… I ate it with my friends, back on Isla."

Nina’s smile deepened.

"Her name is Ari. We called it "Arimen." We made it together, with all our friends, and ate it… It was so delicious. I learned how to make it from her."

It was the first time Mio had seen Nina truly smile, not the usual polite expression but a real, fond smile. It felt as if she was speaking to those distant friends rather than to Mio, her tone relaxed and warm.

For some reason, that smile tightened Mio’s chest. She felt Nina’s warmth and the pain of her past reaching across the space between them, touching her heart directly.

According to Ignacio, Nina had been forced to leave her journey on Isla halfway through.

Nina had sacrificed herself to save Isla, offering herself to Urano so that the others could safely reach "the edge of the sky." Neither Nina nor Ignacio knew what had become of those left behind on Isla.

—Nina had many friends too…

Watching Nina, Mio could understand that all too well. Just as Mio had lost everything and drifted to Pleiades, Nina had also left behind many precious things when she came to this floating city.

—She’s just like me…

It felt presumptuous to compare herself, an apprentice spy, to someone like Nina, the heir to Urano. But Mio couldn’t help feeling a deep resonance in her heart.

"…She must be a wonderful person… Ari."

Mio offered the comment, and Nina’s smile grew warmer.

"Yes… She’s very special… my dearest friend."

It was the kind of innocent smile you’d expect from a young girl.

—I'd like to know more about this person.

That thought crossed Mio’s mind.

After dinner, Mio returned to her room, her duties for the night completed. The other three helpers were still basking in the afterglow of "Arimen," determined to ask Nina for the recipe so they could try making it themselves. Mio was just as interested and considered asking Ulshyrra or Ignacio if they could get the recipe for her.

Mio, along with the other helpers, stayed in a small room in the main building’s corner. After the usual post-sunset chores—cleaning the kitchen, putting away dishes, checking the lamps, and tending to the horses in the stable—she would return here, wipe down her body with a cloth, and go to bed. It was a simple room with four wooden beds, but it was Mio’s own space for now.

Tomorrow would come early. The day’s tasks began before sunrise. While the work wasn’t easy, it was nothing compared to the year-long training in covert operations she’d endured at Zenon’s estate. Besides, today had been an enjoyable day.

—It was supposed to be about cheering Nina up, but I think I ended up being the one who got cheered up.

As she lay in bed, staring up at the dark ceiling, Mio realized that.

Since arriving in the floating city, she had kept her heart closed off, but after spending the day arguing with Ignacio and trying to lift Nina’s spirits, she had opened up without even realizing it. It had been so long since she’d felt this kind of energy.

—I'd thought I’d thrown myself away a long time ago.

—I didn’t know I could still feel this way… that I could still cry, get angry, and laugh.

—I guess I’m tougher than I thought…

Even though she had betrayed her friends and funnelled information to Urano, here she was in a foreign land, putting on a facade of being a good person and trying to cheer up an important foreign dignitary. By all rights, she didn’t deserve to be here—she was a traitor, a failure.

Each night before she slept, Mio made it a point to berate herself, and today, even after such a happy day, was no different.

—I’m really shameless…

──The worst, most despicable person…

Mio continued to berate herself as the image of Nina's smile, seen for the first time that day, flashed before her closed eyes.

Though her circumstances of being forcibly brought to Pleiades mirrored Nina's, Mio still felt the differences between them.

That's what she thought.

──Nina's friends surely still care about her.

The letters she'd accidentally glimpsed in Nina's room, written by numerous companions, were proof of that.

If Mio's former comrades were to write her letters now, they would be filled with hatred and curses.

──I'm not like her…

──I just need to focus on not angering Zenon…

She chastised herself for almost allowing a misunderstanding to take root. The lightness she felt inside, after enjoying her day for the first time in a long while, left her feeling uneasy. It was precisely this fleeting happiness that made Mio turn her anger inward.

──I don't deserve to enjoy life…

At the end of each day, this ritual of self-punishment was Mio's way of atoning for the betrayal of her comrades. With harsh words and clumsy self-loathing, she waited for sleep to come. She prayed that the joy she experienced today, the lightness in her heart, would all disappear by morning.

Part 9 (Part 2 of Volume 5)

The taste of blood seeping through the mucous membrane of his mouth jolted him back into consciousness.

He would never give in.

No matter how unjustly they treated him, he would not yield to the likes of them.

Another punch landed on his right cheek. For a moment, his vision almost went black, but he focused all his willpower into his gaze, forcing himself to stay conscious.

Sakagami Kiyoaki spat out the blood and mucus pooling in his mouth, then glared fiercely at the St Vault military police officer in front of him, his bruised and battered face radiating defiance.

"You keep making that face, and you'll just get hit again," the officer sneered, shaking his head in mockery before delivering another blow to Kiyoaki's cheek. Sparks of pain flared in his vision, but he clenched his fists behind the back of the chair, where he was handcuffed, and endured the impact.

"I'm not a spy," he muttered, repeating the only words that mattered. The officer, a stocky man in his late twenties with a sneering, reptilian grin, grabbed Kiyoaki by the hair and yanked his head upward.

"We're not so naive as to believe an Akitsu monkey's lies."

".................."

"That look in your eyes pisses me off. What a joke—"the Six of Eriadore," huh?"

The officer punched Kiyoaki in the jaw again, relishing the hit.

"Your command wanted to make you heroes, but what a disgrace. One's a Uranos spy, and the other two are nothing but cowardly monkeys. We were kind enough to form an alliance with you, and this is how you repay us?"

The officer, full of venom, kicked Kiyoaki's chair. Bound to the chair, Kiyoaki toppled over onto the concrete floor, unable to brace himself as his head struck the ground hard.

"Do you even know how many St Vault soldiers died at Balsinos? Over 3,500. You monkeys slaughtered them all after we neutralized the surface and began landing. It was the worst kind of betrayal—how dare you treat your allies like that?"

The officer pressed the sole of his boot against Kiyoaki's temple, grinding it into his skull.

Even as he was crushed beneath the boot, Kiyoaki didn't falter. His eyes, still sharp, glared upward.

"There must have been… a mistake…! Akitsu would gain nothing… from such an act…!"

"Shut up, monkey. Stop pretending to be human."

The officer removed his boot from Kiyoaki's head and kicked his face again. Kiyoaki's head jerked violently, and blood splattered against the wall. Choking on his own blood, Kiyoaki still refused to lower his gaze.

"Answer the question. You and your comrades were reporting on the Voltec Air Squadron’s movements to the Akitsu Federation. Isn't that right?"

"I would never… do such a thing…!"

His body was battered and broken, but he managed to pour the last of his strength into his words, fuelled by anger.

"They're all comrades…! I would never betray… my own comrades!"

The officer grinned, a malicious glint in his eye, as he crouched down next to Kiyoaki.

"I don't believe you. After all, you people are the kind who can smile while stabbing your allies in the back. You infiltrated Air Hunt to pass on intel to Akitsu. Just admit it."

"We came here… to learn!!"

"That's a lie."

The officer squatted down, enjoying every second of Kiyoaki’s sincere response, laughing mockingly.

"You got yourselves inside St Vault's military, absorbed our knowledge, and reported our moves back home. That’s how it was, wasn’t it? Come on, admit it."

Clearly, the higher-ups in St Vault were intent on framing Kiyoaki and Kagura as spies, stirring up hatred against Akitsu. The truth didn't matter. They wanted to paint them as traitors to stoke animosity toward the Akitsu Federation.

"If you confess, I'll stop kicking you. How about that?"

"Have some shame!"

"Tch. What an idiot."

The kicks rained down again, followed by three more punches. Kiyoaki, still bound to the chair, became nothing more than a punching bag, his body enduring blow after blow until his consciousness began to slip away.

But cold water splashed over him, snapping him back to life.

Through blood-streaked vision, he saw the officer grinning down at him.

"This won't stop until you talk. You’re wasting your energy."

"I… won’t… lie…! Even if I die… I won’t tell such a lie!"

Spitting out a mixture of blood and phlegm, Kiyoaki glared at the officer with fierce resolve.

"We're not spies! We came to St Vault to learn, to work alongside Voltec Squadron. I respect them! It doesn't matter where we're from—I would never betray them!"

The officer shook his head in mock amazement, looking up at the ceiling and sighing dramatically.

"Still going strong, huh? You're a tough one. Guess I'll have to ask someone else…"

"…………!? No…!"

"Was her name… Kagura Murasaki? She seems like she'd be much more fun to question."

Kiyoaki froze, the full weight of the officer's words hitting him. Then, the realization set in, and his legs thrashed violently in his restraints.

"Oh, look at that reaction! Maybe she's the one I should ask, huh?"

"If you lay a hand on Kagura… I will kill you…!"

The officer stopped, mouth half-open in surprise.

Kiyoaki's expression twisted into a snarl, his voice growing savage.

"Do whatever you want to me. Beat me, break my bones, I don’t care. But if you touch Kagura, I swear I will kill you. I will kill you."

The officer gazed at him with a look of contempt, as if staring at a pile of trash, before speaking.

"Are you trying to make a deal?"

"Don’t touch her."

"Hmph. I see… She’s important to you, huh? Well, this just got interesting. You know what? You’ve convinced me. I’m done with you."

The officer grinned wickedly and turned as if to leave the cell.

Realizing what was happening, Kiyoaki forced his swollen eyes open wide, shouting.

"Stop!! Ask me! I’ll tell you anything—just leave her alone!"

His desperate screams echoed through the cell, his mouth spilling blood as he pleaded. But all he received in return was the officer's vile grin. With a sneer of satisfaction, the officer glanced at Kiyoaki’s contorted face one last time before walking out of the cell.

The heavy clang of the iron bars locking into place echoed ominously.

"I'll kill you! I'll kill you, I swear it! I’ll kill you!!"

Kiyoaki’s roar of rage reverberated through the dungeon, but the only answer was the fading sound of footsteps.

"Kagura…! Kagura!!"

The thought of Kagura, always calm and composed, being subjected to such brutality made his blood boil. He had to escape this prison, but no plan presented itself.

"Damn it…! Damn it all…!!"

The feeling of helplessness was overwhelming, bringing him to the verge of tears. To endure such torment, to be beaten and coerced into confessing falsehoods—it was infuriating.

The officer wanted him to confess that he and Kagura were spies for the Akitsu Federation. If he did, it would be over. Execution or forced labour until death would follow. Everything he had worked for at the officer academy and the Voltec Air Squadron would be undone. Worse still, Kagura would suffer for it too.

──I have to endure…

He told himself this over and over again.

But could he really withstand it all? The beatings would continue until he broke. Day after day, he would be subjected to pain, suffering, and humiliation. How long before his resolve crumbled?

──Hold on. Just hold on. Somehow… somehow, things will get better…

──My comrades will come. They’ll come to save us…

That was the only glimmer of hope. The friends he had shared everything within Eriadore, the pilots of Voltec—they had to be working to free him and Kagura. He had to believe in them.

──Believe in them. They’ll get us out of here…

The pain from his injuries finally began to seep into his awareness. During the beating, adrenaline had dulled the sensation, but now the true extent of his wounds became apparent. Bound to the chair, unable to wipe the blood from his face, Kiyoaki summoned every ounce of his willpower to stay strong.

──We’ll survive. I won’t give up. Kagura and I have comrades we can trust…

Clinging to that thin thread of hope, Kiyoaki vowed he would never give in.

Flying Fortress "Odin."

The flying island, once owned by Uranos and called "Kalkinos," was captured by the St Vault Empire, renamed "Odin," meaning "Thunder God," and anchored over a small island off the Sierra Greed Sea, floating at an altitude of 2,000 meters.

Its propulsion system, rudder, and engine were all destroyed by the enemy commander Lysander, rendering Odin incapable of self-navigation. For now, it was merely a floating island, and it would take at least two more years to repair it and integrate it into the assault fleet.

Though unable to sail, it was still usable as a forward airbase. Odin was an invaluable bridgehead for St Vault's entry into the Southern Archipelago Sea. Elite flight crews from across the Northern Archipelago were now gathering on Odin, preparing for the upcoming battle with the new enemy, the Akitsu Federation.

There were three airfields in total.

St Vault's most elite fighter squadron, the Voltec Air Squadron, was stationed at the third airfield, carrying out daily reconnaissance and enemy surveillance missions.

Next to the runway, the former Uranos air command building remained intact and was repurposed as the Voltec Air Squadron Command Centre.

On the third floor of the command centre, Colonel Abraham Monroe, the commander of the Voltec Air Squadron, turned a cold, emotionless gaze toward Lieutenant Leo Rosenmuller, who had once again stormed in, just as he had the day before.

"I told you last time, there's nothing I can do. You understand that, don't you?"

He spoke calmly. But Leo, unusually, did not back down.

"At least allow me to meet with them and assess the situation. If they're undergoing improper interrogation, it could damage the honour of our nation."

"This isn't something for you to worry about. The matter has been left to military police. Sticking your nose into their territory won't gain you anything."

Leo's expression shifted to one of anger. Leaning forward as if about to slam his hands on the desk, he raised his voice.

"Two of my valued subordinates have been taken by unknown forces, and I have no idea where they are or what's happening to them. Isn't that reason enough to get involved?"

Colonel Monroe glared at Leo for a moment before resting his elbows on the desk and interlacing his fingers.

After taking a deep breath, he raised his head with a calm, calculated expression.

"Kagura Murasaki and Kiyoaki Sakagami are no longer your subordinates. They're criminals. Their crime is being Akitsu citizens. The judiciary has ruled as such. This isn't an issue for the Voltec Air Squadron."

"I am responsible for my subordinates' lives. I have a duty to ensure they're safe and not being mistreated."

"Lieutenant Rosenmuller, I know well that you're a devoted officer. But your passion should be directed toward the current members of your squadron, not toward criminals who are no longer under your command. We're still on the front lines here. Our enemy is not our allies; it's Uranos."

"They are not criminals. They are soldiers who risked their lives for St Vault!"

"This conversation is over. Return to your duties."

Colonel Monroe, with all the authority of his position, pointed his pen toward the door. Leo, suppressing his seething emotions, shot Monroe a look of reproach, clicked his heels, saluted, and left the office.

"This is beyond outrageous. How can this be allowed to stand...?"

Leo stormed down the stairs in a rage, but he still had no clear plan on how to rescue Kiyoaki and Kagura.

But...

"Just wait. I will save you."

The only thing Leo had was that resolve. Nationality didn't matter to him.

He simply wanted to return the wings to Kiyoaki and Kagura, who loved the sky just as much as he did.

Leo was certain after the recent battle off the Sierra Greed Sea. Kiyoaki was destined to become the "Ace of the Archipelago" one day. And Kagura had already proven herself with her command abilities during formation flight. With more experience, she could eventually lead an entire air squadron.

"I can't let their wings be taken from them."

His instincts as a pilot told him that much.

Even if they ended up on opposite sides, they were still people who loved flying and the sky. All Leo wanted was for them to unleash their abilities in the sky, not rot away in a prison cell.

"I won't let you two end here..."

Looking up at the summer sky as he left the command centre, Leo spoke to his missing subordinates.

Meanwhile, at the third airfield's ready room, Voltec's non-commissioned officers had gathered around a table, studying a map of Odin.

Senior flight officer Macguire, the leader of the non-commissioned officers, pointed to a spot on the map, reporting on his tailing of a military police officer.

"The main base for the military police is in the northwest of the city, at the old Uranos police station. They're using the same building Uranos used. If those two are being held somewhere, it's probably there. There might be other detention facilities, but this one is the most suspicious for now."

Beside him, Illia Kreischmidt nodded gravely as she gazed at the map.

"If it's a police station, we can at least visit and inquire about their safety. First, we need to confirm they're safe, and then we can work toward getting them released."

The twin female flight officers, Lulu and Lala, grinned mischievously and chimed in.

"See? I told you it's useless to just keep asking nicely."

"Yeah, even if the captain tries, they're just gonna get annoyed."

"We should just bust them out with force."

"How about we go shoot up the police station right now?"

Like mischievous children plotting a prank, they made terrifying suggestions with frighteningly genuine intent. Illia shook her head.

"That's a last resort. We need to find a legitimate way to secure their release. If we don't, it'll affect the entire squad."

Her voice trailed off. Illia's desire to rescue Kiyoaki and Kagura was personal. If the legal route failed, she was willing to consider forceful measures, but she didn't want to drag the squad into it and make them bear the consequences.

However, Lulu and Lala pouted, clearly unhappy.

"That's not fair. You're acting like we don't care about Kiyoaki."

"Illia, are you trying to hog the glory? We want to help him too!"

Other male non-commissioned officers, with equally frustrated expressions, joined in, directing their complaints at Illia.

"I want to rescue Kagura too!"

"I've already figured out how to carry her out—I'll scoop her up in my arms, hold her here, support her there..."

"After I rescue her, I'm gonna kiss her on a cliff!"

"I'm gonna do something even better!"

"I've got a plan to do this!"

"What? Well, I'm gonna do this!"

"I'll do this!"

"No, you're not!"

"I'm not doing it to you, so don't worry!"

"What did you say, you bastard?!"

"Grrr!"

"Arrgh!"

"Raaah!"

The non-commissioned officers started arguing over what they'd do after rescuing Kagura, eventually devolving into a fistfight as usual.

"Enough."

Leo, who had just returned from the command centre, coldly ordered, immediately silencing the brawl, as was customary.

"Captain, how did it go with Mon-chan?"

Leo slumped into a chair and frowned at Lulu's question.

"Don’t call the commander by a nickname. It's Colonel Monroe. As for how it went...well, the phrase "hitting a brick wall" comes to mind. He just kept insisting it's not his jurisdiction and sent me away."

Everyone around them let out frustrated snorts.

"Ugh, I knew it, that "Mon-chan" is useless," Lulu said.

"Yeah, he's so stiff. He doesn't even get jokes," added Lala.

"Did you know "Mon-chan" had a thing with Irene from maintenance, like three times in the hangar back in the day?"

"Seriously? So he likes older women?"

"Well, it was more than 20 years ago, so they were both younger then."

"Ugh, I can totally picture it—"Mon-chan" and Irene doing all sorts of things in the hangar."

"Enough with that talk. And stop calling the commander "Mon-chan." The higher-ups aren't going to help. Now, how do we get them out...?"

Leo crossed his arms and looked around the room. Macguire, with a serious expression, made a suggestion.

"We could just throw some dynamite and blow up the police station."

"How is that a good idea? Sakagami and Kagura would die too."

"How about loading a 50-kilo bomb on the Beo Eagle and blowing up the station?"

"No bombing. We need to rescue them legally."

"I once fired a 20-millimeter machine gun by hand. I could storm the station."

"Pfft, I did 30 millimetres, one-handed."

"I'll steal an army tank and blast them. Never driven one, but it’s probably the same as flying a plane."

"No, it isn’t, you idiot!"

"Why not? They both run on gasoline and engines!"

"Sure, but everything else is different, moron!"

"Says the guy who’s the real idiot!"

"Shut up, fool!"

"Die, idiot!"

"No, you die!"

"Uraaa!"

"Orraa!"

"Hunnooo!"

Another brawl broke out, but Leo, his gaze now distant, didn’t bother to stop it.

Amid the chaos, Illia, standing still, opened her mouth to speak.

"Given that one of the "Seven of Eriadore" defected to Uranos, and now two of them are labelled enemy foreigners, this is inconvenient for the military's narrative. We could appeal to the public through the media, highlighting their chivalry, and push for their release. It's a roundabout way, but it could work."

"You're right. Illia, you and Reiner handle that. If we can shift public opinion towards their release, we might be able to influence the situation. By the way, where’s Reiner? I don’t see him around."

"He's off duty today. He left early this morning on his motorcycle."

"I see. He's a bit of a mystery..."

"Yes, but he’s likely working on something in his own way. He doesn't tell us much, but that's the kind of person he is."

Illia cast a melancholic look out the window. Ever since Kagura and Kiyoaki were captured, Reiner had been acting differently. His usual carefree attitude had lessened, and he had started showing a side of himself Illia had never seen before—gazing out into the sky with a stern expression. Even when the other non-commissioned officers tried to engage him in their usual banter, his responses had become more detached.

──It's no wonder. He was close to Sakagami...

Illia thought that Reiner must be very worried. It seemed he had stopped relying on the higher-ups or the media and was moving according to his own plans.

──I'll have to start doing the same...

Illia had already made up her mind. While she would still appeal to public opinion as she had suggested to Leo, she was prepared to resort to other methods if necessary to free Kiyoaki and Kagura. And she intended to do so without involving her fellow Voltec Air Squadron members, taking all the responsibility upon herself.

During the battle off the coast of Sierra Greed, Illia had flown in formation with Kiyoaki and Kagura, fighting as one unit. They had protected each other, and it was only through their mutual support that they had survived the intense air combat. For Illia, rescuing them was no longer a matter of gain or loss—it was a personal obligation. Their suffering was her suffering. She couldn’t focus on her duties because her thoughts constantly wandered to the two of them.

──I can't stop thinking about Kagura and Sakagami.

Are they still alive? Have they been mistreated? The St Vault military police were notorious for their brutality. Violence during interrogations was routine, and if a suspect happened to die as a result, it was easy enough to cover up the truth.

No matter how much she tried to push those thoughts away, dark imaginings filled her mind. Each time, her stomach clenched, and a dull, heavy pain spread through her core.

Her legs trembled. It was a different kind of fear from what she felt in the heat of air combat—something more insidious and suffocating. A pilot’s place to die was in the sky, not rotting in a police station’s underground cell. After all the training they had undergone at the academy, to meet such an end was too cruel.

──I will save them, no matter what it takes...

Sharing in their pain, Illia solidified her resolve. Even if it meant becoming a criminal, she wouldn’t regret it.

At 9:00 AM, Reiner Beck, dressed in civilian clothes, parked his bike in front of the Odin City Hall and began to wander around the city on foot.

The city centre, unlike the other military facilities, had largely retained its original form.

Although there were some buildings with large holes from artillery strikes or collapsed roofs, many structures remained intact as the city had been spared from heavy bombardment. When the St Vault infantry landed, Uranos soldiers quickly retreated into underground facilities, converting themselves into a resistance force, which meant there was no intense urban warfare, leaving much of the city undamaged.

Of course, remnants of battle could still be seen. Cracked and pockmarked roads bustled with vehicles: cars carrying officials, armoured vehicles with St Vault soldiers, and trucks loaded with building materials, all weaving through the streets. Policemen directed traffic with whistles, and car horns blared constantly. The noisy activity echoed the rebirth of Odin as part of St Vault’s expanding territory.

With his hands in his pockets, Reiner meandered through the city for about two hours before returning to the front of the city hall.

The building, previously used by Uranos, had survived the conflict and was now staffed by officials and personnel sent by St Vault, who were beginning to oversee the administration of Odin.

Reiner paused, observing the people and vehicles coming in and out of the main gate.

He occasionally smoked a cigarette or shifted locations to read a newspaper, all while carefully keeping an eye on the traffic at the entrance.

Two hours into his surveillance, a police vehicle emerged from the city hall’s main gate. Without raising suspicion, Reiner casually straddled his bike and started it up, keeping enough distance to blend in with other cars but never losing sight of his target.

After about 15 minutes, the police vehicle pulled into a large, imposing three-story concrete building on the outskirts of the city. Reiner parked just before reaching the building and resumed his watch.

“I hope they’re in there.”

Leaning against the wall of the building across the street, he muttered to himself, lighting another cigarette. Although it seemed like he was talking to himself, the words were meant for the other presence deep within him.

──You’re being overly cautious.

Hachidori’s voice echoed back in his mind, full of irritation.

“It’s for the boss. If everything we’ve worked for falls apart now, all this effort would’ve been for nothing.”

──Sakagami will reveal my true identity to the military police. If that happens, the investigation will lead to me.

Reiner, used to Hachidori’s complaints, responded calmly.

“We can leave this island anytime we want. Even if the military police come after us, we can just bail out with a parachute. Simple.”

At his soothing words, Hachidori fell silent momentarily, then once again criticized Reiner’s plan from the other day.

──It’s too much trouble. The risks are too high.

“There are risks, sure. But if we don’t do this, everything we’ve infiltrated for will go to waste. Isn’t it worth verifying with Sakagami?”

Reiner’s plan was simple: locate Kiyoaki’s detention facility, infiltrate it, and confront him to confirm if he had revealed Reiner’s true identity to the military police.

If Kiyoaki had already exposed him, Reiner would kill him on the spot.

If not, he’d break him out, take him to a secluded location, and kill him there.

That was Reiner’s solution, presented to Hachidori as a way out of their current predicament.

In any case, Kiyoaki had to die. Now that he had figured out Reiner’s true identity as an infiltrator, there was no reason to keep him alive. The only question was whether he had already informed someone else, and that needed to be answered.

“It’s a better option than running, right? If he’s told someone, I’ll have to escape too, but if he hasn’t, I can stay here in the Voltec Air Squadron. I think, given Sakagami’s personality, he probably hasn’t said anything. He’s annoyingly honourable like that.”

──I agree about his character. But under torture, who knows what he might say.

“Yeah, that’s true. But if he’s talked, I’ll just kill him. Simple. The most important thing is that I can stay here and continue our mission. If that’s still possible, we have to try.”

──Hmph... troublesome.

“It’s all because Sakagami figured me out. That idiot, always wearing that dumb expression but picking up on the wrong things... what a fool.”

──I’ll leave this matter to you. I’m not enthusiastic about it. But when you kill Sakagami, call me.

“Sure, sure. I’ll make sure it’s quick and painless.”

With that, Hachidori fell silent again.

Reiner continued his surveillance.

As the day wore on and the shadows lengthened, a small delivery truck entered the police station. Bold orange letters on its side read "Delivery Dinner," and the truck was loaded with blue containers that likely held food.

Reiner’s eyes gleamed.

He waited for the delivery truck to leave and then tailed it, tracking it back to its origin after two hours of following.

“Even the military police need to eat.”

Muttering to himself with a smile, Reiner began formulating his next steps. He knew the members of the Voltec Air Squadron were working behind the scenes to rescue Kiyoaki and Kagura, but in Reiner's opinion, their efforts were bound to fail.

“This kind of job should be left to the professionals.”

A sinister grin spread across his face as he revved his bike and sped off. The cracked and crumbling roads passed beneath him as he accelerated, his thoughts crystal clear.

──The goal is not to rescue him. It’s to kill Sakagami with my own hands.

Hachidori’s reminder echoed from deep within.

“I know.”

With that confirmation, Reiner opened the throttle wide and raced through the streets, the glow of gaslights shimmering as he sped toward the vast plains under the moon and stars.

Upon receiving Ilia’s telegram informing her that Kagura and Kiyoaki had been captured, Cecil Hauer left the Selfaust Officer Academy immediately.

After about an hour and a half on the tram, she arrived at Greenhill, an upscale residential area nestled in the mountains.

It had been approximately seven years since she last visited. The last time, she was only eleven years old, and her memory of the streets was vague. With a map in hand, she wandered through the area until she finally found the house she was looking for.

Behind the grand front gate stood a gleaming white one-story mansion, reflecting the bright July sunlight.

She hadn't arranged a visit, showing up unannounced. But there was no time to lose. Feeling a bit hesitant, Cecil mustered her resolve and rang the doorbell.

An elderly butler appeared to greet her, and upon seeing Cecil standing alone before the gate, his deep-set eyes widened in shock.

“Lady Elisabeth...!”

It had been seven years since she’d last been addressed by that name.

Barely managing to remember how to carry herself with dignity, Cecil informed him of her intentions.

“I have come to see my aunt. I apologize for arriving without notice, but I have an urgent matter to discuss.”

The butler, still showing traces of astonishment, quickly remembered his duties and wasted no time in inviting Cecil into the estate.

“I will call for the mistress right away. As this is unexpected, it may take her a moment to prepare, so please be patient.”

“I don’t mind.”

Cecil was led to a clean parlour, where she sat down in an elegant chair with intricately carved backrests. She waited for her aunt, Colette Avery, to arrive.

The chirping of birds in the garden was the only sound. Even the silence in Greenhill seemed refined. A maid respectfully placed a teacup before Cecil and poured fragrant tea.

──I wonder if Aunt Colette will be angry.

As she took a sip of tea, Cecil couldn’t help but wonder.

Though Colette had been overseeing Cecil’s education, the one rule was that she was never to visit this home. As the sister of the late king of Sylvania, Colette’s household had to remain under the radar. If Cecil, the surviving Princess Elisabeth, were to be spotted visiting, suspicions about her true identity would arise. The fact that Elisabeth was still alive had to remain a secret from the world.

But at this moment, that concern no longer mattered.

──I have to do everything I can.

──I have to save Aki and Kagura.

Cecil had resolved to use any means necessary to help them escape, fully aware of the weight she would have to carry as a result.

Just as she steeled her resolve, the door opened.

“Elisabeth. You...”

One look at Cecil’s face was enough to leave Aunt Colette speechless.

Though her expression was stern, Colette seemed to sense the gravity of the situation. She softened her stance and extended both hands toward Cecil.

“Come here.”

Cecil stood up from her chair and rushed into her aunt’s embrace. A gentle hand rested on the back of her head.

“You’ve grown so much. You’re eighteen now.”

“Yes, thanks to you, Aunt Colette.”

“You look and sound so much like your mother.”

Cecil felt tears welling up. Thanks to Colette’s protection, she had lived as an ordinary girl without any hardship. Colette understood the burden of the Sylvanian royal family’s legacy and had left Cecil the option of living a normal life.

Visiting this house before coming of age was a breach of that deep kindness.

“I told you not to come here.”

“I have an important matter.”

“Is it something troubling?”

“Yes. I need to help a friend. And for that, I must ask for your assistance.”

“...I see. I hope it’s something simple.”

“...It’s not simple. That’s why I’ve come.”

Cecil’s expression was sincere as she faced her aunt. Colette, with a thoughtful nod, placed a hand on Cecil’s back.

“Please sit. From the looks of it, you don’t have much time, do you?”

“...No. Time is of the essence.”

Cecil sat down again, and, across the table, she told her aunt everything about the situation.

As she spoke, Colette’s expression grew darker.

“The arrest of Akitsu nationals is an imperial decree from St Vault. No amount of influence can change that.”

After hearing Cecil’s story, Colette quietly explained.

“Then how can I save them?”

“There’s no way. Even my husband’s power couldn’t help.”

Cecil bit her lip. She knew the situation was dire, but she desperately searched for a solution, any possible way to grasp even a thread of hope.

“My uncle has close ties with the Akitsu Federation’s ambassador. Would it be possible to make contact?”

“That’s possible, but what would you say to him?”

“I’d ask him to send a ship or airship from the Akitsu Federation to retrieve them.”

“Even though St Vault won’t release them?”

“Yes. The release would be handled by other means.”

“By unofficial means?”

“........................”

“The Avery family cannot be involved in such things.”

“...Yes. That’s my responsibility.”

“...This won’t be easy.”

“Please. All I need is for the ambassador to meet with me. I’ll handle the negotiations under my name. I won’t cause any trouble.”

Once again, Colette met Cecil’s plea with a long silence.

She took a sip of her tea before speaking in a calm voice.

“Cecil Hauer’s name won’t be enough to meet the ambassador. He’s not someone a mere student can easily meet. You understand that, don’t you?”

“...Yes. I understand.”

“As Princess Elisabeth of the Sylvanian royal family, you would be requesting cooperation from the Akitsu Federation’s ambassador... Do you understand the weight of that?”

“I’ve come here fully prepared.”

“If your existence becomes public, not only will the old retainers but the former subjects of Sylvania will be roused. There will be a push for the restoration of the royal family, and it will be impossible to stop. Are you truly ready for that?”

“...Yes. I am... prepared for it.”

Colette’s gaze turned harsh.

“Elisabeth. A ruler cannot make decisions based on emotion alone. One decision you make could lead to the deaths of thousands, even millions. You are about to alter the lives of millions of people tied to the Sylvanian royal family, all for the sake of two friends. Think carefully.”

“........................”

“If you reveal your identity and request a transport for your friends, is that worth risking the future of the Sylvanian royal family?”

“........................”

“You’re being reckless. Go home and cool your head. This isn’t a decision worthy of a future monarch.”

Cecil stood still, absorbing her aunt’s words.

Anger, like molten lava, surged from the pit of her stomach.

She couldn’t hold it back.

Her words erupted with fury as she faced Colette.

“Before being a ruler, I will make the choice that is right as a human being.”

With her head held high, she continued, her expression resolute.

“If becoming a ruler means forsaking my humanity, then I’ll accept that fate and rise above it.”

The air itself seemed to hum with tension. Cecil had never experienced such an oppressive silence weighing down on her entire being.

“You speak of succession as if it’s a mere qualification exam.”

Colette’s voice was cold.

“It’s my destiny. I will accept it and overcome it.”

Cecil responded without hesitation, recalling the word “destiny” that Kagura had once used during their night landing on the airship Eriadore.

──This is why I was born into this world.

──I will carry this burden and fulfill what only I can do.

Cecil faced her aunt, projecting the dignity of a future monarch.

Colette’s gaze sharpened, as if her eyes had become blades, cutting deep into Cecil’s soul, scrutinizing her inner resolve.

But.

──There’s nothing I’m ashamed of.

──I will save them. I will save Aki and Kagura with my own hands.

Telling herself this, Cecil allowed Colette’s piercing gaze to explore everything inside her.

The long silence was finally broken by Colette’s sigh.

“...In that, you’re just like your mother.”

She spoke with a touch of exasperation and shook her head slightly, as if in resignation.

“The fatal flaw in your plan is that you don’t have a way to actually free them. Even if I arrange for transport, it’s pointless if they remain imprisoned, isn’t it? How do you plan to break them out?”

“I’ll consult with my comrades.”

Likely by physical means.

“That won’t do. Present me with a concrete plan for their release. If I find it feasible, I’ll arrange a meeting between you and the ambassador.”

“........................”

Cecil could only bite her lip. Her aunt was right; she had rushed here driven by her emotions. Her concern for her friends wasn’t enough to move the situation.

"…How can I free the two of them?"

Cecil found herself asking her aunt the very question that had been troubling her.

Colette gazed at Cecil for a moment before her expression softened.

"You really are just like your mother. She always acted on impulse, dragging everyone into her whirlwind, while she smiled as if everything was fine."

A vision of Cecil's late mother briefly flashed behind her eyelids.

"Even though she caused so much trouble, you couldn’t hate her. She was charming and sincere, without a hint of deceit."

Colette's words stirred memories deep within Cecil's heart. Her mother was cheerful, full of life, and always seemed to brighten the world around her.

"...To think I’d meet her again like this. I thought she was lost forever, but she’s still alive... inside of you."

For a fleeting moment, Cecil thought she saw a glimmer in Colette’s eyes.

Colette turned her gaze to the bright sunlight outside the window and, as if speaking to herself, continued.

"About ten days ago... I had a visitor. His title was 'Officer of the Information Bureau at the St Vault Operations Command.' One of the 'Seven of Eriadore'... or is it six now? He’s one of them."

Cecil’s eyes widened in surprise.

"Captain Balthazar… came here?"

"He wanted to get in touch with the former retainers of the Sylvanian royal family. I didn’t intend to meet with him, but since his business also concerned my husband's work, I had no choice. Quite the cunning young man. He tried to use some clever negotiation tactics, so I pretended to be interested and introduced him to a lowly bureaucrat who would be of no use to him. He left with a big grin on his face, but I’m sure by now he’s found out that he was played. The man I introduced him to is the worst sort—someone who lives to spend other people’s money."

Colette chuckled, clearly amused by her own trickery. Cecil, determined not to let her aunt turn into an enemy, cautiously asked her next question.

"But why would Captain Balthazar want information about the Sylvanian royal family?"

"He’s thinking ahead about the occupation of Santos Island. The people there still yearn for Sylvanian rule, so it would be convenient for their propaganda to have a former retainer of the royal family. He asked me an amusing question: "What are your thoughts on the rumours of Princess Elisabeth’s survival?"

Colette mimicked Balthazar’s tone with uncanny accuracy and burst into laughter. Despite having met him only once, she perfectly captured his manner of speaking.

"He brought that up and carefully watched my reaction. When I laughed it off, he didn’t seem too pleased. It seems that he really wants you to be alive. If Elisabeth were still alive, it looks like he’d try to use you for his plans."

Cecil’s head spun.

"W-Why would Captain Balthazar be looking for me?"

"Because if he has you, he wouldn’t need to rely on the former retainers. You alone would be enough to sway the people of Santos Island to his side. The lost Princess Elisabeth holds that much influence. You need to be more aware of your position."

Cecil fell silent. The idea that Balthazar was looking for her left her feeling strangely unsettled.

And why was her aunt telling her all this now?

It was clearly a hint of some sort.

Balthazar is looking for Princess Elisabeth, and now that Cecil knows this, what should she do next…?

The answer suddenly flashed in her mind.

"A-Aunt Colette, can you contact Captain Balthazar?"

Colette raised an eyebrow.

"He should be with the Intelligence Bureau in Odin right now. But what will you do if I contact him?"

"I-I thought… maybe I could cooperate with him…!"

"Cooperate, you say?"

"Yes! If we work together, I’m sure we can save Kagura and Aki!"

Colette sighed theatrically, clearly unimpressed.

"Elisabeth, a king must never act first."

"B-But…!"

"You need to make the other party approach you. That way, you hold the advantage. Be patient. Balthazar will come to you."

"But Balthazar doesn’t know I’m the real princess! There’s no way he’ll reach out to me."

"Listen carefully. This house is always under surveillance by St Vault intelligence agents. The fact that you entered the estate freely is already known to their command."

"W-What…?"

"That’s why I told you never to come here. But since it’s too late now, we must adapt to the new situation. You just have to wait. He’ll make contact with you, and when he does, you must conduct yourself with the dignity of a monarch when addressing your subjects."

Cecil was left speechless.

"Use Balthazar. He’ll be your first subordinate."

Colette smiled wickedly, clearly relishing the situation.

Despite it being the height of summer, a chill ran down Balthazar Grim’s spine.

He instinctively turned his head, glancing over his shoulder to check if he had been doused in cold water, but finding no such thing, he dismissed the feeling. Descending the short ramp of the transport aircraft, he set foot on the tarmac of Odin's First Airfield.

Balthazar had recently vacated his post on Mauregan Island, relocating to Odin. This would be his new assignment for the foreseeable future. He boarded a taxi with his superior officer, Colonel Andy Bott of the St Vault Navy and Air Force Operations Command, and they set off toward the city.

“Your friends have found themselves in quite the unfortunate situation, still held captive on this island,” Colonel Bott commented, staring uninterestedly out the window at the passing scenery of the "floating island."

“It was always a possibility. I imagine they were prepared for such a situation,” Balthazar replied matter-of-factly, watching the armoured vehicles, trucks, and bulldozers pass by. Three days had already passed since Kiyoaki and Kagura had been captured.

“Does it trouble you?” Bott pressed.

“It’s beyond my jurisdiction,” Balthazar responded with calculated indifference. The colonel glanced at his side profile.

“You look sleep-deprived.”

Balthazar, maintaining his composure, answered with controlled detachment.

“I haven’t been sleeping well lately. If it continues, I’ll consider taking some sleeping pills.”

“Hm,” Bott responded, his probing ending there.

What a strange superior, Balthazar thought. This wasn’t the first time Bott had said something like this. Previously, he had advised Balthazar to “maintain friendships to better understand human emotions.” Now it seemed Bott was observing how Kiyoaki and Kagura’s capture might affect him emotionally.

How ridiculous, Balthazar scoffed internally. He cared little for what happened to them.

The Operations Command would likely paint Kiyoaki and Kagura as spies for the Akitsu Federation, using them to fuel hatred and bolster the fighting spirit of the troops. The truth didn’t matter anymore. All that was needed was a convenient scapegoat to unite the soldiers.

The cool breeze that had once surrounded Kagura was gone. What awaited her now was the storm of violence reserved for sacrificial lambs.

Unlucky. Just give up, Balthazar sent an unspoken condolence to Kiyoaki and Kagura, who were likely being beaten in their cells.

There’s nothing I can do.

That’s what he had been telling himself repeatedly these past three nights as he lay in bed, unable to sleep.

But even in the darkness, images of Kagura continued to appear in his mind.

“I have a saying in my country: "tenmei," or destiny. It means that each person is born into this world with a mission bestowed upon them by heaven,” Kagura had said during one of their operations aboard the airship Eriadore. Her words, from that time, when they had narrowly escaped death, were etched in his memory.

“We have overcome every trial so far. That means we must face the final trial head-on and return together, without losing anyone. That is our destiny.”

Her dignified words had stuck with him.

So, dying in a prison was your destiny after all, Balthazar bitterly retorted to the image of Kagura in his mind.

But then, another memory crept in.

“You’re not as cold-hearted as you think you are,” she had once told him, smiling, as they walked along the beach.

Her smile returned to him again and again, along with the vow they had made:

“Even if we become enemies, we will not hate each other.”

“Friendship is eternal.”

Since their imprisonment, those words and her smile had haunted Balthazar, refusing to leave his mind.

I don’t care. Get out of my head. This has nothing to do with me.

Even as he tried to banish Kagura from his thoughts, the image of her being tortured in prison would not leave him alone.

In truth, though he hadn’t told Bott, he hadn’t slept in three days.

It doesn’t matter what happens to her.

They had simply been passengers on the same airship, nothing more, nothing less. He had far greater ambitions than to lose sleep over a mere classmate falling from grace.

Balthazar’s thoughts were interrupted by Bott’s next question.

“And how’s the situation with the Sylvanian royal family? Any progress?”

The colonel’s words were like salt in an already raw wound. Balthazar buried his frustration beneath a calm, rational facade.

“Ten days ago, I met with Lady Colette. She introduced me to one of the former retainers of the Sylvanian royal family. After traveling for two days by train, I met the individual in question, but after a brief investigation, I discovered that he was a man of low character, despised by the people of Santos Island and implicated in corruption.”

“I see. It sounds like Lady Colette set you up.”

“There was no other option but to trust her recommendation. Given that we don’t have an active list of surviving retainers, there was no way to prevent such manipulation.”

“Lady Colette is a shrewd woman. You aren’t the first to try gathering information on the Sylvanian royal family. Many capable individuals have tried and failed, often manipulated by her for her own amusement. You must not have made a very good impression on her.”

Balthazar remained silent.

He had thought he’d made progress during his meeting with Colette, using all the negotiation tactics he’d learned. But now, it was clear he had been played.

He had expended significant resources, time, and effort, only to come away with nothing but frustration.

What a devious woman, Balthazar thought bitterly.

Bott’s voice brought him back to the present.

“Incidentally, I’ve received some interesting information. It seems that one of the Six of Eriadore, Cecil Hauer, visited Lady Colette’s residence yesterday.”

Balthazar’s confusion deepened as he turned to his superior.

“Cecil?”

“According to our spies watching the Avery estate, Cecil arrived without prior notice, yet was immediately allowed entry. She stayed for five hours and even dined with Colette before being sent back to the station in a two-horse carriage. What do you make of that?”

Balthazar was at a loss for words.

It seemed that Cecil and Colette were more than mere acquaintances.

“Who is that girl, really?”

“That’s what I want to know. Her family register places her as a native of Santos Island, where she lost her parents during Uranos’s invasion seven years ago. She’s been living with relatives in St Vault ever since.”

Balthazar crossed his arms, deep in thought.

During their time at the officer’s academy, Cecil and Mio had accompanied him to many high-society events. Both were unnaturally adept at navigating such circles despite their youth.

Mio, as he later learned, had been a spy, likely trained for such roles. But why was Cecil so skilled?

And then there was the visit by Akmed, the King of the Skies, when Kiyoaki and Ilia’s duel had caught everyone’s attention.

At the time, Balthazar had wondered why someone like Akmed would take an interest in a mere student duel. Could it be that Akmed’s true purpose had been to observe someone else?

The thought sent a cold sweat trickling down Balthazar’s temple.

“No, it couldn’t be.”

As the chill crept back up his spine, he tried to shake the idea from his mind.

“It’s impossible… it can’t be true.”

Balthazar shook his head in denial. The very notion was absurd.

That girl, of all people…

The thought alone made his skin crawl.

If what he feared was true, then everything he had ever said or done to Cecil…

Balthazar’s body shook with a fear he had never known. The implications were too terrifying to accept.

Please, let it not be true. Let her be dead, as the official records say.

"Upon arrival, I'll inquire with the operations headquarters' archive to see if there are any photographs or portraits of Princess Elizabeth... There's something that's been bothering me," Balthazar said, his voice slightly more tentative than usual.

"Hmm. I'll leave the task of gathering information on the Sylvanian royal family to you. This could turn out to be more intriguing than I initially thought," Colonel Andy Bott replied, gazing out at the passing cityscape.

For my part, I hope there's nothing intriguing about it at all, Balthazar silently prayed to himself.

Part 10 (Part 3 of Volume 5)

The weight of his suspicions, combined with the unease of what this investigation might reveal, lingered heavily in his chest as they continued their journey.

A Sense of Time Lost.

How long had passed since being thrown into this cell? Sakagami Kiyoaki had no way of knowing.

With no windows or clocks, it was impossible to tell whether it was day or night.

Lying on the cold concrete floor, his body battered and bruised, Kiyoaki stared blankly into the darkness through his swollen eyelids. The only thing he could do was hope not to hear the approaching sound of footsteps.

If the interrogators came, it meant more violence. His body, now covered in bruises and cuts, wouldn’t respond even if the restraints were removed. Yet, despite his physical state, he refused to break.

Sakagami Kiyoaki and Kagura Murasaki were being forced to confess to being spies for the Akitsu Federation. The violence wouldn’t stop until they admitted to this falsehood.

But if they did, the two of them would face execution by firing squad.

There was no hope in sight. At times, the thought that dying would be better than enduring this torment crossed his mind. But each time, Kiyoaki scolded himself.

Kagura is here with me. I won’t let her be executed.

That single thought kept him enduring the irrational brutality.

Handcuffed behind his back, lying on the floor, Kiyoaki gazed into the darkness, his mind drifting back five years to the invasion of Messus Island.

That sudden airstrike on his homeland.

Hiding in their secret base in the cornfield, Kiyoaki and his older sister Yumiko were toyed with by Karnasion, the "Black Panther," as he fired his machine guns at them for amusement.

“I won’t let you die. You’ll be fine.”

Yumiko had embraced Kiyoaki, shielding him with her own body.

The rain of bullets tore through her back, and the warmth of her blood soaked Kiyoaki.

“We’ll always be together.”

Her smile, one he loved so dearly, was something he could never forget.

“I’m living together with you, Kiyoaki.”

Those were her final words. The reason Kiyoaki was alive now was that Yumiko had given him her life.

Kagura, who resembled Yumiko so much.

When Kiyoaki first met Kagura, he remembered how his hands trembled, and tears welled up in his eyes. Though their personalities and actions were completely different, something about their spirits—the way their souls existed—was so similar.

He hadn’t been able to protect Yumiko back then.

But now, at least, he wanted to protect Kagura. No matter how much he was beaten or kicked, as long as Kagura was safe, that was all that mattered.

"Kagura," he muttered briefly, his voice barely audible. He had no idea what had happened to her.

Please, don’t let her be suffering like I am. Let the officers of the St Vault military police know shame. Let them not heap their cruelty and malice upon someone as dignified and composed as her.

"I’ll save you. I promise," he whispered into the darkness. Somehow, they needed to escape from this place. Together, they had to flee from St Vault.

The chances were slim.

Surely, our friends will come.

Illia, Cecil, Balthazar...

And then, he thought:

…And Reiner...

He remembered how, just before being captured, he had confronted Reiner about his true identity. That had been a stroke of luck. Because of that, Reiner was undoubtedly on edge right now.

Reiner will come.

To question me—and, depending on my answer, to kill me.

Kiyoaki knew that much. Reiner’s only concern was whether he could continue his covert operations within the Voltec Air Corps or if his position had been compromised.

Hurry up, Reiner.

As he stared into the darkness, Kiyoaki called out to his friend in his mind.

I’ll use your power.

Kiyoaki held one single card. A fragile hand of just one, upon which both his and Kagura’s fates rested.

At the end of summer, Balthazar Grim arrived in the imperial capital, Selfaust.

He exited the station and, without any detours, boarded a city tram heading towards the Selfaust Officer Academy. The view of the city through the window was steeped in the colours of war. With the outbreak of the Second Multi-Island War, patriotic fervour had swept the nation, and the expressions of those on the streets were filled with vitality. Young men lined up in long queues before recruitment posters, eager to volunteer for the army.

If one opened a newspaper, it was filled with reports of the atrocities committed by the Akitsu Federation. During the Odessa campaign on Messus Island, after the tide had turned, the Akitsu forces suddenly opened fire on allied troops, resulting in the deaths of many brave St Vault soldiers. Such treachery was unprecedented in military history. It was a tragedy for St Vault, a nation that, in its desire for peace in the Multi-Island Sea, had been forced to make allies of such cowardly people. The press echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the Akitsu Federation must be punished for their betrayal, and that St Vault must bring down the hammer of justice upon the barbarian states of the southern seas.

Balthazar’s thoughts, however, were clear.

This is just the right kind of propaganda to deceive the masses.

Though the narrative presented in the mainstream press was far from the balanced analysis of a prestigious paper, it was simple enough to stir the public. St Vault was the righteous force, while the Akitsu Federation was the villain. It was a message that even a child could understand, and it had gained overwhelming national support for the war. The Empire was poised to crush the Akitsu Federation so thoroughly that it would never rise again.

All of this was planned from the start.

According to the Empire’s announcement, the Akitsu forces had shelled the St Vault landing forces during the Odessa campaign. But if that were true, it was likely a simple misfire, something that happens frequently in the chaos of war. Normally, the shelling would have stopped as soon as contact was made with the attacking unit. The real issue, however, was that the Empire used this as a pretext to launch a coordinated attack against the Akitsu Federation without any attempts to clarify the situation.

It was an unlikely scenario. The original mission of the St Vault forces was to secure Balsinos, not to suddenly change their target and attack their allies. The only explanation was that the St Vault military had been preparing for war from the beginning and had seized the opportunity to execute their plan.

It wasn’t an accidental skirmish that escalated into war.

The Imperial forces had prepared for this conflict all along.

That’s how Balthazar read the situation. From the moment the alliance with the Akitsu Federation was signed, the Empire had planned to betray them as soon as the Hydrabard Union was neutralized. The Empire didn't care about what the Akitsu thought of them. They only needed to convince their own citizens that they weren’t the villains. By portraying the Akitsu as cowardly traitors, they could stoke the flames of nationalism. Patriotic fervour would soar, war bonds would sell out, taxes would increase without complaint, and young men would continue to volunteer en masse to exterminate the “monkey” enemies across the sea.

It’s all a well-executed three-act play for the nation.

Balthazar looked out at the capital with cold detachment. If each citizen had a modicum of reason and knowledge, they would see the smirking faces of the military’s top brass and the government officials who profited from the chaos. But the populace, lacking education and accepting government-controlled media without question, danced to the tune of the Empire’s war drum.

The Akitsu Federation likely had a similar frenzy underway. They would be painting the St Vault forces as treacherous "white pigs" who attacked them during joint operations, rousing their own people’s patriotism to strike back. The narrative was probably not so different on their side.

The whole world is dancing to the absurdity of war.

As distasteful as it was, Balthazar knew that this situation was advantageous for his grand ambitions.

It’s the perfect era for someone to rise to the top on their own merits.

Just watch, old man. I’ll destroy the Werner conglomerate you built with my own hands.

Balthazar’s grandfather, Renior, had singlehandedly built the Werner conglomerate, spanning industries such as steel, oil, coal, shipbuilding, automotive, aviation, pharmaceuticals, leisure, electronics, and military goods. It stood as the largest conglomerate on the Mitterland continent, wielding power that exceeded national boundaries and influenced the geopolitical landscape of the Multi-Island Sea.

You think you have the world in your hands, old fool.

I will crush the empire you built with your life.

To do that, I need my own country, one that moves at my command...

Ever since Balthazar ran away from home at the age of fourteen, he had not once forgotten his dream:

Conquering a nation.

The most efficient way to counter the Werner conglomerate was to seize control of a nation’s power. Building a business empire from scratch would take too long, and his grandfather might die of old age in the meantime. That wouldn’t serve his purpose. He needed to rise to power while his grandfather was still alive, so that he could personally witness the destruction of everything he had built.

I will take the St Vault Empire.

Balthazar was serious about this. To achieve that, his first step was to become the Chief of General Staff of the St Vault military. Given the lacklustre abilities of the current high-ranking officers in the Operations Headquarters, Balthazar estimated that it wouldn’t be long before he could claim that position.

There’s no room for mistakes in trivial matters.

I need overwhelming success.

A great achievement that only I can accomplish.

For that, I will use every means necessary.

Resolving this in his heart, Balthazar noticed the tram had arrived at its stop in front of the Selfaust Officer Academy.

Stepping off the tram, he gazed at the red-bricked buildings before him. The academy wasn’t as large as the Air Hunt Academy, but it was one of the most prestigious in the Empire, having produced many chiefs of staff. Its history made it the oldest officer academy in St Vault.

This is where that chimpanzee is.

The silent thought escaped him, and Balthazar hurriedly shook his head.

No, she’s not a chimpanzee. She’s human.

Despite her foolish and carefree nature, her obsession with clothes, food, and pointless chatter, and her perpetually relaxed expression even in the most tense situations, she was still a human being, capable of speech. She wasn’t an ape. He had to treat her as a person.

In fact, not just a person.

If his suspicions were correct, she might very well be... her.

Ridiculous as it seems, I can’t deny it.

That little monkey could very well be... Elizabeth Sylvania.

Balthazar had come to the academy today to determine Cecil’s true identity. Based on the intelligence gathered by the Imperial spies and his own research on Princess Elizabeth, as well as Cecil’s background, there was no evidence to rule out the possibility that Cecil was, in fact, the princess.

Their ages matched. Their birthplace, the reason Cecil had lost her parents—everything aligned. Most significantly, Cecil’s close relationship with Colette Avery was a heavy indicator. The only thing missing was a photograph or portrait of Princess Elizabeth, but none could be found in all of St Vault.

The Avery family likely hid it.

That’s what Balthazar believed. It was almost inconceivable that no photos or portraits of a princess, even from her childhood, existed. Some powerful force had undoubtedly erased all traces of her appearance. There was someone for whom it was inconvenient for the princess’s identity to be revealed.

Whoever went to such lengths likely had something to hide about Cecil. As outlandish as it seemed, there was no solid evidence to dismiss the idea.

I’ll use all my manipulation skills to unmask you, Cecil Hauer.

Once I set my mind to it, bending you to my will is child’s play.

He had treated her harshly in the past, but after all, she was just a naive girl from the countryside. With his wit, looks, and charm, it would be easy to erase past grievances and make her fall under his spell. Given Cecil’s bird-like intellect, she would likely forget all about the past as soon as he treated her with a bit of kindness. One smile, and she’d be his in no time.

I’ll use every trick I know to charm Cecil and uncover her true identity.

Taking a deep breath, Balthazar stepped onto the grounds of the Selfaust Officer Academy, ready for the decisive encounter.

Of course, he hadn’t informed Cecil in advance. He needed to make it seem like a chance meeting. He already knew her class schedule for the day. All that was left was to wait for her to finish her seminar and casually "bump into" her in the courtyard...

"Wait... Captain?"

As Cecil exited the classroom after presenting in her tactics seminar, she spotted a familiar figure in the courtyard. But there was no way Balthazar could be here, so she stopped and took a closer look.

The figure turned to face her, and their eyes met.

"Hey, Cecil! What a coincidence!"

The person, who bore a striking resemblance to Balthazar, smiled brightly and waved as they jogged over.

He looked exactly like Balthazar, but something felt off.

"I'm sorry, but you must be mistaken."

Cecil turned away and quickly started to run. However, the figure chased after her.

"What's the matter, Cecil? It's me, Balthazar, your friend!"

A shiver of revulsion ran down her spine. It was creepy. This person looked exactly like Balthazar but was doing a terrible job impersonating him.

"Stay away! I'll call the police!"

She yelled as she glanced over her shoulder, only to see the figure still chasing her with an eerie smile, waving as if scattering invisible flower petals behind him.

"But I'm telling you, I'm Balthazar!"

"Stay away! Don't come any closer, you creep!"

"Why are you running? I just want to talk!"

"Why do you think?! Of course, I'm running!"

"Wait! Hold on!"

"Go away, pervert!"

"Pervert? Who are you calling a pervert?!"

"You, obviously! Stop following me!"

"I'm not a pervert, I swear! It's me, Balthazar!"

"The real Balthazar would never act like this! If you're going to impersonate him, at least study harder first!"

As she angrily shouted this, the smile on the impostor's face began to crack, and a deep frown creased his brow. His hand, which had been waving, slowly dropped to his side.

"...It was a joke."

The impostor suddenly stopped in his tracks, hanging his head low. He slapped both hands on his face and then slowly lifted his head, revealing an expression like he had eaten something awful.

"...It's me. ...Balthazar."

His familiar monotone voice and emotionless face, devoid of any charm, stood in stark contrast to the bizarre display earlier.

Out of breath, Cecil stopped as well, keeping a distance of about five meters between them, hands clasped in front of her chest.

"Ca... Captain!?"

"...Been a while, huh? You seem well... That's good."

His awkward, forced greeting left Cecil utterly confused.

"W-What is this!? Why are you here? And what was that earlier?!"

"...Please... one question at a time. ...I mean... it would be helpful if you could... consolidate them."

His strange and stilted speech left Cecil even more bewildered. She tried to calm her racing heart, focusing on the Balthazar standing in front of her.

"Uh, okay... What are you doing here?"

"...Do you have a problem with me being here? Is there something wrong with it?"

That familiar threatening tone in his voice, the kind she was used to, made her realize this truly was the real Balthazar.

"Wait, really? You’re the real thing?! What was that earlier?! It was SO creepy!!"

She hurled the accusation at him, and Balthazar’s face twisted in a grimace. He lowered his head, clearly trying to suppress his emotions. He raised his head briefly, his expression filled with barely restrained rage, causing Cecil to take a step back. Then, after several deep breaths, he restored his usual cold, composed expression.

"...I told you... it was a joke."

"Captain, you looked so dumb!"

"..."

"Do you honestly think that was a joke?! That was so wrong! You really need to work on your sense of humour. If you keep pulling stunts like that, you'll end up in jail!"

Her rapid-fire criticisms clearly struck a nerve, as the muscles in Balthazar’s face twitched. His lips quivered as if he was trying to contain his frustration.

"Let me show you how bad it was! Look, like this! Isn't it stupid?! Doesn't it look awful?!"

Imitating Balthazar’s earlier bizarre behaviour, Cecil exaggerated a wide, goofy smile, waving her hand wildly as she pranced around him in an awkward, pigeon-toed run. Then, she stopped, hands on her hips, ready to deliver more scolding.

"I don’t expect you to have a sense of humour, Captain, but even so, that was terrible! I’m saying this for your own good—you need to learn some basic social skills, or one day you'll make a huge mistake and fall from grace!"

As she rattled off her critique, Balthazar's face twitched more violently, his lips, brow, and even his throat all spasming in unison. Cecil expected him to snap at any moment, perhaps even physically lash out, as he often did when angered. She braced herself for retaliation, but it never came.

"Are you okay, Captain? Are you sick or something? You seem... off."

"...I'm not sick... Just... give me a moment..."

Balthazar turned away from her, visibly trying to regain his composure. He muttered something under his breath, looking up at the sky. After a deep breath, he turned back to her, now sporting a surprisingly gentle smile—one that made Cecil instinctively step back.

Although this new smile was more human than the earlier unsettling grin, Cecil, who had spent countless hours with Balthazar during social functions at the Air Hunt Academy, knew that any smile from him was likely masking some ulterior motive.

Balthazar ran a hand through his hair, flashing a brilliant smile.

"How about dinner? You must be tired of cafeteria food. Let’s go out to the city."

Cecil felt a chill run down her spine. She instinctively wanted to flee but stopped herself as she recalled her aunt Colette’s words.

"Mark my words, Balthazar will seek you out."

And indeed, here he was, just as predicted.

"You must respond to him with the dignity of a ruler."

Colette had foreseen that the operations headquarters might suspect Cecil’s true identity. Balthazar, it seemed, was here to confirm her status for his own purposes.

The Captain's here to investigate me...

At that realization, Colette’s voice echoed again in her mind:

"Use Balthazar. He’ll be your first subordinate."

This could be an opportunity.

If I play my cards right, maybe I can use him to save Aki and Kagura...

Suppressing her unease, Cecil forced herself to stand tall.

If he’s planning to use me, I’ll use him too.

Feigning nonchalance, she replied, "Sure, I’d like that. It seems like we have a lot to talk about."

Balthazar’s overly polite smile showed a flicker of satisfaction—he believed he had her where he wanted her.

"Good. Let’s go then. We’ll take a cab or a carriage—public transport is a hassle."

"Uh... actually, could you wait a moment? I need to drop something off in my room."

"Of course, no rush. I’ll meet you at the main gate."

"Great! See you soon!"

Cecil hurried back to her dorm room, retrieved a certain treasured item from her drawer, and smiled a devilish grin.

The restaurant Balthazar chose was among the finest in Selfaust. The amber glow of the soft lighting, white tablecloths, silver candleholders, string music, and wealthy patrons in tailored suits all suggested a place where even the air had a price. Everything about the place screamed luxury.

"Is this okay? It seems... expensive."

"It’s not on the expense account, but it’s a special occasion. Don’t worry about it."

Balthazar’s fake, polished smile stretched across the table. Apparently, he was paying out of pocket. Whatever he was scheming, he was sparing no expense, and Cecil found herself impressed.

"Would you like some wine? You drink, don’t you?"

"Sometimes, with friends. I don’t mind it."

"Great."

It was obvious he planned to loosen her tongue with alcohol. He was playing the part of a charming gentleman, but his probing glances revealed his real intentions.

I don’t need to reveal my identity.

That was a last resort. Right now, her goal was singular.

I have to steer this conversation toward getting him to help Aki.

"Cheers."

Balthazar poured a vintage wine into their glasses, offering it with an overly formal flourish. Despite his efforts, Cecil could still remember all the times he had belittled her. He seemed to think she had forgotten, but she hadn’t. His arrogance permeated his very being, as if everyone else were merely puppets for his amusement.

Suppressing the urge to throw the wine in his face, Cecil smiled back.

"Cheers. It’s been a while, Captain."

After a clear sound, she took a sip. As for the taste of the wine, she couldn't tell if it was good or not.

With a nervous hand, Balthazar cut into the dish with a mysterious name that sounded like "something from the sea breeze or something." He casually asked about Cecil’s student life. A cold shiver ran down her spine. Back when they were students, he had always imposed his will on her, dragging her along wherever he wanted. Now, without a single inquiry about her well-being since graduation, he suddenly appeared out of nowhere, playing the role of the "caring senior."

—This guy probably thinks I’m like a bird that forgets everything after three steps.

As she responded to Balthazar’s questions, Cecil became convinced of it. She had written about her student life in the letter she had sent him, but from his questions, it was clear that he hadn’t read it. He might be smart and skilled in his work, but his consideration for others was completely lacking.

—This feels so uncomfortable...

It was easier when he openly treated her like a lesser being. The deceitfulness of his current demeanour made it worse.

After finishing the oddly named soup, the main course was served. That’s when Balthazar started to talk about his job, almost nonchalantly.

"For the time being, I'll be working on matters related to Santos Island in the southern archipelago. Conquering that island is only a matter of time, but the real concern is the sentiments of the islanders after the occupation. They’ve grown weary of constantly changing rulers due to the ongoing wars. Since the island is geopolitically significant as a battlefield, it’s crucial that we manage to win the cooperation of the locals.”

He said all this in one breath, observing Cecil’s expression carefully. He seemed to be gauging her reaction to the mention of “Santos Island.”

“Oh wow. That sounds tough,” she responded with a carefree tone, trying to act like a bird-brained girl. Beneath his charming facade, she could sense his disappointment in her lack of reaction, but he quickly put on the mask of a kind mentor again.

“You’re from Santos Island, right?” he asked.

“Yes. Wow, I’m surprised you remember that, Captain.”

“Of course I do. How could I forget the hometown of a dear junior?”

—Liar, she thought, suppressing the urge to grab him by the neck and scream.

“Oh wow, Captain. You’re so thoughtful,” she said, buttering him up.

Pleased, Balthazar flashed a smug grin and ran his hand through his hair again.

“Of course. I’m always thinking of all of you.”

“Oh, I’m so happy to hear that.”

“By the way, Cecil, do you have any relatives on Santos Island? If you do, it’d be a huge help if you could introduce me to them.”

As they continued their phony conversation, Balthazar leaned forward slightly and asked this. It was clear that this was the real reason he had invited her today.

Cecil widened her eyes and tilted her head slightly as if deep in thought.

“Nope, I don’t think so. I used to, but I haven’t been able to get in touch with anyone for a long time.”

This, at least, wasn’t a lie. She had no idea where the former vassals were or how to contact them. Only her aunt Colette knew that.

“Anyone would do, even a familiar face like a shopkeeper or a waitress. The fact is, we don’t have any contacts on Santos Island. Could you jog your memory a little and see if you remember anyone?”

Balthazar spoke in a sickeningly polite tone, persistently pushing her for more information.

“I do remember some things, but it’s been so long. I’m not too confident in my memory,” she replied, keeping the charade going.

“There must have been some childhood playmates, right? It was only seven years ago. Do you remember any names?”

Cecil felt a mischievous urge to mess with him but managed to control herself.

“Playmates, huh? I didn’t really have many. You see, my parents were quite overprotective, so they didn’t let me play with kids my age.”

Balthazar’s nostrils flared slightly. He was hooked. Leaning forward even more, he pressed her for details.

“I see! I always suspected as much. When I took you to those parties during our academy days, I noticed you were well-versed in social etiquette. I figured you must come from a rather high-ranking family. Even among the "Seven of Eriadore," you always stood out for your refinement and intelligence.”

—Liar. He used to treat me like a monkey, throwing bananas at me.

Cecil suppressed the urge to lash out and instead smiled sweetly.

“Oh my, you’re making me blush. But Miss Mio is far more refined and intelligent than I am.”

“Mio? She’s no match for you. Sure, she was popular with the boys, but when you stood next to her, she faded into the background. Your natural grace is something you were born with. It’s almost like you’re a princess from some far-off kingdom.”

Cecil nearly choked on her wine.

—This is torture. Her whole body was covered in goosebumps, and she fought the urge to scratch herself all over and kick him in the crotch.

“O-oh my... A princess, huh? Th-that’s quite flattering.”

She forced a strained smile, barely managing to hide her discomfort. Balthazar, still grinning like the cat that got the cream, continued.

“It’s true. For example, even if you were the rumoured "lost Princess Elizabeth," I wouldn’t be surprised.”

At the same time, he flashed her his most charming smile.

—Now, reveal your true self, you silly mix of bird and monkey.

—Are you just an odd little creature? Or the fallen princess of a ruined kingdom?

—Depending on your answer, I might just stick you with the bill and run.

While thinking these ridiculous thoughts behind his smile, he patiently awaited her response. After a brief pause for consideration, Cecil finally opened her mouth.

“Oh, I’m a princess, huh? That’s pretty funny.”

Her response was as indifferent as always.

Then she placed both elbows on the table, cupped her chin in her hands, and smiled at him like she was admiring a wildflower.

“If I were... what would you do, Captain?”

A shiver of fear like nothing Balthazar had ever experienced exploded down his spine.

His instincts were warning him of some unseen danger. It was a fear unlike anything he had ever felt before. Even during the life-threatening missions aboard the Eriadore airship, when he had faced death multiple times, he had never been this terrified.

—What is there to fear? It's just Cecil. There's no reason to be afraid.

He reassured himself and returned her question with a casual smile.

“Even if that were true, I wouldn’t be surprised. The elegance you exude is something not easily attained by others.”

Cecil, with a mischievous look, stared at Balthazar for a while, as if observing him, before ignoring the question and making a request.

“Captain, would you go see Aki and Kagura?”

“...Me? For what reason?”

“They're comrades.”

Balthazar almost chuckled. He had felt a momentary fear, but after all, the person in front of him was still Cecil—naive, prioritizing personal feelings, and short-sighted in her actions.

Suppressing his urge to sneer, he gave her a reply.

“Seeing them wouldn’t accomplish anything. They wouldn’t be happy about it. There’s no point.”

“They're on the same island, though?”

“They're under the military police’s jurisdiction, not mine. To see them, I’d need to submit a request and get permission. Unfortunately, I’m too busy with my duties. I don’t have time for unnecessary things.”

“Your duty is finding the former retainers of the Sylvanian royal family, isn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“If I said I could help with that, would you meet with them?”

He almost made a fist pump but quickly restrained himself. He maintained a casual demeanour as he replied.

“What level of help are we talking about?”

“Substantial. Enough to surprise you, Captain.”

His throat tightened with anticipation, but Balthazar held back, trying to draw more information.

“Even if I met them, what would come next? Breaking them out is impossible, and even if we could, there’s no way to send them back to their homeland.”

Cecil, still smiling as always, responded casually.

“I happen to have a few connections that could help with getting them back to Akitsu. So, you can leave that part to me.”

She said it with the same foolishly carefree expression, despite the outrageous claim.

—This woman definitely has something behind her.

Convinced of this, Balthazar still maintained his expression.

“That would be helpful.”

“Please do!”

Cecil, seemingly carefree, clasped her hands together in front of her face, tilting her head in a manner not so different from any other naive girl.

“...So, I meet them, report back to you. Is that all you want?”

“Yes.”

—It’s worth making a concession. Meeting them isn’t much trouble.

—Play the kind-hearted senior, and win her favour.

Even if Cecil wasn’t actually Princess Elizabeth, it was highly likely that she held a significant position within the former royal family. Right now, he needed to focus on building a closer relationship with her. If he took his time, her true identity would eventually be revealed.

“...Alright. When I return to Odin, I’ll visit them. I’ll send you a report by telegram.”

“That’s great! Once I get the telegram, I’ll send you the information on the Sylvanian royal family’s former retainers.”

Balthazar raised his wine glass. Cecil picked up hers, and once again, the clear sound of glasses clinking filled the air.

—Not perfect, but well enough. This visit was worth it.

Smiling inwardly, Balthazar wet his lips with the wine.

Well, I suppose this will do for now.

Cecil, too, sipped her wine, whispering to herself inwardly.

The "treasure" she had tucked away in her breast pocket could wait for another day. That was the final card to be played when it came to controlling Balthazar. There was no need to use it just yet.

For now, it was enough that she had gotten him to agree to see Aki and Kagura without revealing her true identity.

Things would start to move from here, she believed.

—Once he meets them, the Captain’s heart will surely be swayed.

She hoped for that. No matter how cold-hearted Balthazar might be, surely when he saw the suffering of his former comrades, he would feel compelled to help. If Balthazar led a rescue mission in Odin, the chances of success would significantly increase.

And if, by some chance...

—If the Captain's heart doesn't move...

—If he sees Aki and Kagura suffering and does nothing...

Cecil cast a royal gaze upon Balthazar, one befitting a true heir to the throne.

—This man has no right to be involved with the Sylvanian royal family.

Balthazar, no doubt, was feeling satisfied with himself right now, probably thinking he'd pulled one over on her. But did he realize he was the one being tested?

—Captain, I’m sorry, but I’m going to test you.

—I know this sounds harsh, but a person without compassion or empathy has no place in the royal family.

With an innocent smile masking the steely resolve of a princess, Cecil took another sip of her after-dinner coffee.

Part 11 (Part 4 of Volume 5)

It took a week for permission to visit to be granted.

Fifteen days had passed since the two had been captured.

As the intense August sunlight scorched the streets of Odin, Balthazar squinted up at the police station before him, his eyes pained by the brightness.

—They’re down there, in the basement.

Fulfilling his promise to Cecil had taken more effort than expected. He had casually requested to visit but kept getting denied. In the end, he had to rely on his superior’s influence to negotiate with the military police’s higher-ups, and finally, he was here today.

The sunlight stung his eyes. It could partly be due to the altitude—the island floating 2,000 meters above sea level—but his ongoing sleep issues were also likely to blame. The light entering his eyes felt so intense it was causing him a headache.

He still couldn’t sleep without sleeping pills. For the past ten days, he had been relying on medication to get through the night. Though the cause was unclear, lately, Kagura had been appearing in his dreams more frequently, which was troubling.

—Why are you in my dreams? You have nothing to do with me.

He wanted to complain, but every night, Kagura appeared in different forms: when they had braved enemy territory together on the Eriadore, when they fought in mock air battles during officer training school, and when she visited his dorm, and they strolled along the beach together. Kagura’s cool smile would always fade into darkness, sometimes accompanied by her screams from within the pitch-black void. Despite the sleeping pills, there had been three occasions when he jolted awake, unable to stay asleep.

Why he was having such dreams, he couldn’t understand.

—Ridiculous. What do I care what happens to Kagura?

—She’s nothing to me. I don’t care if that samurai woman dies in prison.

—Really. I’m completely fine.

Gazing up at the sun-soaked police station, Balthazar tried to reassure himself, but he couldn’t bring himself to go in. It was rare for him, but he was honestly feeling scared.

—What am I afraid of? No matter what happens to them, I won’t change.

—I’m here because Cecil asked me. Nothing more, nothing less.

—I’ll check on them, send a quick telegram, and get the information I need.

—That’s it. It’s over. Even a child could do this; it’s a simple task.

Repeating this to himself over and over, Balthazar finally stepped into the building.

After undergoing a body check from security and informing the reception of his visit, he was met with a disinterested look from the officer in charge before being guided down to the underground holding cells.

The air was damp and mouldy. Perhaps it was the same everywhere, but military police and gendarmerie officers tended to be gloomy and often brutal. Their job involved investigating not enemy personnel but their own soldiers, often performing duties close to internal surveillance, which made them disliked and looked down upon by other soldiers. This sense of inferiority often manifested in their violent interrogation methods.

"It's rare for a captain from Operations to visit a place like this," the officer said as he led Balthazar down the dark stairs. He had likely figured out that Balthazar was one of the "Six of Eriadore" and had come to check on his comrades out of personal concern.

"We’re just following orders from above, you know. I feel sorry for them, but given the times, it can’t be helped."

He was already making excuses. Balthazar silently followed him.

"Everything is about what suits the higher-ups. For them, only the convenient stories are the truth. Our job is to pass that "truth" up the chain of command. You understand, given we’re at war."

A bad feeling began to settle in Balthazar’s chest. He answered shortly.

“I’m not here to criticize you. I’m only following orders myself. Once I’ve seen their condition, I’ll leave.”

The officer didn’t respond, but a sense of relief seemed to flow from his back.

On the second basement floor, there was another guard. The officer showed his ID, and after checking his face, the guard lifted the iron gate. Since this holding cell had originally been built by Urano, the mechanisms were outdated and overly elaborate.

They passed through a narrow hallway, and on the right, cells began to appear.

Since Odin had only recently started its operations, most of the cells were empty. However, there was a faint scent of blood lingering in the air.

—Whose blood is that?

Such thoughts burst through his mind. The sense of foreboding grew stronger.

The officer stopped in front of a certain cell.

“This is it.”

Balthazar also stopped and looked into the cell.

In the darkness, Sakagami Kiyoaki sat slumped against the wall.

He hadn’t noticed Balthazar’s arrival. His right leg stretched out in front of him while he rested his left knee upright, using it as a pillow for his head, which was buried in his arms.

“Hey.”

There was no reply. There were bloodstains on the floor.

“Sakagami. It’s me.”

When he raised his voice slightly, an arm twitched.

The swollen face of Kiyoaki turned towards Balthazar.

He stared back in stunned silence.

—Looks like he’s been beaten quite a bit.

Balthazar could tell just by looking at Kiyoaki’s face.

Balthazar, who rarely placed value on emotions, felt a pang in his chest.

—Could it be that Kagura has suffered the same?

The thought crossed his mind. No matter how rough the military police were, he didn’t want to believe they would go this far against a woman.

“Quite the looker, aren’t you?”

Trying to hide his agitation, he made a sarcastic remark. Only then did Kiyoaki come to his senses.

“…Captain?”

“Cecil asked me to come. Just checking up on you.”

There was a flicker of what seemed to be joy in the eyes of Kiyoaki, whose face was now almost unrecognizable.

He hastily tried to stand, but his legs gave way, and he stumbled forward, crawling towards the iron bars.

“Captain…! Thank you, Captain!”

“Calm down. I’m not here to rescue you. Just checking in.”

“Yes, I know, I understand. But still… I’m so happy…!!”

Kiyoaki’s voice was almost in tears as he expressed his joy, unable to hide it. Balthazar, feeling uncomfortable, looked away.

“I came because Cecil wouldn’t stop pestering me. That’s all.”

He repeated the same excuse. Kiyoaki asked,

“What about Kagura…!? Is she safe!?”

“I don’t know. I’m going to check on her now.”

“Yes… Please, please check on her.”

“…Don’t expect too much from me. There’s nothing I can do.”

Kiyoaki glanced at the officer. It was clear the man was eavesdropping on their conversation.

“Captain, there’s something I must tell you.”

“What is it?”

Kiyoaki swallowed his words for a moment, took a breath, and then said something strange.

"It was Reiner who took down the communications equipment."

Balthazar glanced at Kiyoaki's face for a moment. Seeing that his sincere expression didn't waver, he nodded, understanding what Kiyoaki wanted to convey.

"I see."

"Please…"

"I understand."

The task was done. Balthazar shifted his gaze toward the darkness at the end of the corridor.

"I want to see the other one."

Upon hearing this, the officer looked uncomfortable but led him further down the corridor. Balthazar cast a glance back at Kiyoaki and said,

"Take care."

"Yes. Thank you very much."

With that brief farewell, he left Kiyoaki’s cell behind.

In the damp darkness, they passed under three conical beams of light from overhead bulbs, finally reaching the end of the corridor and descending another flight of stairs.

Their shadows flickered against the bare concrete walls. Their footsteps echoed ominously, as if being drawn into some underworld deep beneath the earth.

—Is Kagura really down here?

His heartbeat quickened. Balthazar became acutely aware of his fear. He was surprised to realize such a weakness existed within him. It was a feeling rising from deep within his chest, perhaps for the first time in his life.

They reached the second basement level.

The oppressive atmosphere in the air became even thicker.

"I'll tell you this now," the officer began making excuses again, "that girl, she acted up terribly again this morning."

He continued, "We've had to restrain one of her arms. She seems to know martial arts, and if you underestimate her because she's a woman, you'll get hurt."

Balthazar asked the officer, his gaze on his back,

"Did she have some reason for needing to resist?"

The silence was his response.

A heat unlike anything he'd felt before surged through Balthazar's temples. He almost kicked the officer in the back but caught himself just in time.

—Why am I getting so worked up?

—I'm no child. There’s no reason to be emotional.

—I'm here because Cecil asked me. That's all.

He repeated this mantra to himself. He should be able to control his emotions with ease—or rather, emotions didn’t exist for him. For a top-tier modern person, emotions were like the appendix, a leftover from when humans were still hunters and gatherers. A first-class individual understood the mechanisms of self-destructive behaviour caused by emotions, and could control and dismantle them.

—It's surprising that I still have a trace of such things within me. But.

—I won’t let it consume me.

As he repeated this internal caution, the officer stopped in front of a certain cell.

"This is Kagura Murasaki's cell."

Balthazar realized he was afraid.

He was scared to look inside.

—What am I afraid of?

—What does it matter what state Kagura is in? It doesn’t concern me.

—I'm here because Cecil asked me to be.

He repeated the silent mantra he'd recited thousands of times over the past week, rubbing it into his consciousness. Only then did Balthazar look into the darkness of the cell.

Amid the heavy shadows, a single figure stood in a strange posture.

His heart thudded in his chest.

His legs trembled. But Balthazar steeled himself and focused his gaze into the darkness.

A single chain hung from the ceiling.

An iron shackle was fastened around the figure's right wrist, attached to the chain.

Suspended by the right arm, Kagura knelt on the floor of the cell, her head drooping.

Her face was hidden by her bangs.

Her clothing, though dirtied, was the same white uniform of the Voltec Air Squadron from when she had been detained.

"It's me. Kagura."

He called out. There was no reply.

The usual dignified aura was nowhere to be seen, and her vitality seemed to have faded away.

A seething heat boiled in the pit of Balthazar's stomach.

He felt an overwhelming urge to grab the officer by the temple and slam his head into the iron bars.

—Calm down.

He told himself, then called out again, this time more forcefully.

"Kagura. Wake up. It's me."

Her head, which had been hanging down, lifted slightly.

"…!?"

Barely… she started to raise her face, but then stopped.

"Balthazar…?"

A hoarse voice escaped her lips. It was faint, weak, and raspy—Kagura's voice, but worn and fragile.

Without thinking, Balthazar grabbed onto the iron bars with his left hand. He had no idea why he made such a meaningless gesture.

"Are you okay?"

He asked, but Kagura lowered her head again.

"You came."

Her voice was withered and strained, but the joy in it couldn’t be hidden. However, she still didn’t lift her face toward him.

"Don't misunderstand. I'm here because Cecil asked me. That's all."

As he made his excuse, Kagura, still facing downward, gave a faint laugh.

"That’s the real Balthazar. I thought you were a phantom. But you're real."

It was the same teasing tone Kagura had used when they had once walked together along the beach. But now, it was filled with happiness.

A bittersweet feeling spread through Balthazar’s chest.

It was a strange sensation, something he had never experienced before—sweet, painful, and so intense that it threatened to shake his very being.

"I’m just here to check on you. That’s all. There’s nothing I can do."

Instinctively, he continued to make excuses. Kagura still didn’t face him, but she spoke, her words dropping softly onto the floor.

"Yeah. I understand. Thank you. Just you coming here is enough."

Balthazar felt an overwhelming sense of frustration.

—Why won’t she look at me?

Though Kagura’s words conveyed her genuine feelings, she refused to show him her face.

—I want to see your face.

Just as that desire rose strongly within him, the memory of Kiyoaki’s swollen, bruised face flashed in his mind.

Surely not.

"…Were you beaten?"

Before Balthazar realized it, his right hand was gripping the iron bars.

Kagura didn’t respond.

“…Did the people here… did they hurt you?”

Without realizing it, his voice trembled. An unknown surge of emotion rose within him, making him grip the bars even tighter.

Still, there was no reply.

"Lift your head, Kagura."

Kagura, slumped like a broken doll, said nothing.

"Show me your face."

Please.

Just once more, show me the smile you always used to tease me with.

"Hey, Kagura."

I want to see you, the way you used to be—strong and proud.

"You really are oblivious to people's feelings, aren’t you?"

Finally, Kagura’s voice reached him.

"I don’t want you to see my face right now. I’m sorry."

Her words tried to sound composed, but Balthazar could tell she was trying to mask her emotions.

"Did they hit you in the face?"

"…"

"The people here. Did they hit you in the face?"

The anger in Balthazar’s voice was unmistakable. He pronounced each word slowly, as though the boiling rage was about to overflow.

"Balthazar, I don’t want to cause you any trouble."

Kagura, still looking down, said those words.

"Answer my question. Have you been hurt or not? Which is it?"

Balthazar's heart felt like it was bleeding. His blood boiled, racing through every vein in his body.

Kagura, still hunched over, let out a small laugh.

"I'm surprised. I didn’t think something like this would make you angry."

"What’s so funny? I’m not angry. I’m just confirming the facts of what’s happening here."

"I guess it’s too much to expect delicacy from you."

"Look at me."

"No."

"Look at me!"

His tone became harsh. Kagura laughed again.

"Come on, Balthazar. Try to understand a woman’s feelings, would you?"

Though she spoke in a joking tone, Balthazar realized her words were tinged with tears.

Kagura was crying.

"I'm glad you came. That’s enough for me. Please tell Cecil I’m fine, even if it’s a lie."

She was trying her best to hide it, but he could hear the faint trace of tears in her voice.

—Even you cry, Kagura.

A feeling of helplessness poured out from Balthazar’s soul.

He was frustrated, unsure of what to do. It felt as if every nerve in his body was about to burn out.

He struggled to find the words, speaking from deep within his throat.

"Are you planning to rot away here?"

"…"

"Is this truly your fate… to wither away in a place like this?!"

He remembered the time when they had flown in the Eriadore airship, navigating through enemy lines together.

When Kiyoaki had tried to perform a night-time water landing to save Mio, Balthazar had stopped him. The word Kagura had used then was “fate.”

That word was still etched in Balthazar’s memory.

"Let’s make sure we all return alive. That is the fate we should follow."

Looking back, it was that successful water landing that earned them the title “The Seven of Eriadore” and led Balthazar to his current position. In a way, Kagura had given him everything he had now.

And yet.

Is this how it ends?

"Answer me, Kagura!"

Forgetting to hide his anger, Balthazar slammed his words into her.

"Shall we finish up now? You’ve confirmed that your friends are safe."

The officer spoke from behind, his tone businesslike.

Balthazar turned his head slightly to look back at him.

"Don’t talk to me right now. I’ll kill you."

"…"

The officer fell silent. He instinctively knew that Balthazar wasn’t lying—if he spoke another word, his life would indeed be at risk.

"Hey, Balthazar."

Still without lifting her head, Kagura called out to him in a quiet voice.

"Please tell everyone that I’m fine. We’ll figure things out on our own. Kiyoaki and I came to this country fully prepared for something like this."

Her voice was firm, though Balthazar could tell she was summoning all her strength to remain composed.

"You don’t look fine."

"It's fine. Thank you for coming. I'm really happy. You truly are a kind and caring person, aren't you?"

"Don't be ridiculous. I don't have such cheap emotions."

Kagura laughed again, a soft sound deep in her throat. Balthazar noticed that droplets of water were falling from Kagura’s cheeks, landing on the floor.

Though he couldn't see her face, Kagura continued to let her tears drip onto the ground.

Was she in pain? Was she sad? Was she crying because of the agony she was enduring?

—No.

Balthazar knew.

—Kagura is crying out of happiness.

For some reason, he was certain of that.

Even now, Kagura, with one arm bound and suspended from the ceiling, was both laughing and crying.

"What are you laughing at? I'm being serious."

"Yeah. Yeah. I know."

Kagura answered, her tone full of amusement as if she found everything inexplicably funny.

"What kind of woman laughs in that state?"

Balthazar was starting to feel awkward. He finally realized that Kagura’s laughter was aimed at him, gripping the bars with both hands, unable to hide his anger.

"Sorry. I guess I am a strange woman."

Kagura managed to stifle her laughter and tears but still kept her head down as she spoke.

"Please, just go."

"…"

"Give everyone my regards."

"…Alright."

Balthazar sensed the unspoken feelings behind Kagura’s words.

She didn’t want him to see her like this anymore.

"I'll report your treatment to my superiors."

"…Yeah. Thanks."

"…Take care, then."

"Yeah."

Balthazar glared at the officer before turning on his heel.

It felt as though his feet were shackled by iron balls, heavy with every step.

Dragging his feet, Balthazar left Kagura behind.

He followed the officer back up the stairs.

The oppressive air began to lighten, returning to its normal atmosphere.

Balthazar stepped out of the police station and returned to the surface of Odin’s floating fortress, looking up at the clear blue sky.

The transparent, pure sky was in stark contrast to the gloomy scene he had just witnessed.

He wondered if Kiyoaki and Kagura would ever be able to gaze up at this sky again.

As these thoughts filled his mind, Balthazar headed toward a civilian post office to send a telegram to Cecil. While military postal services were available at the Odin branch of the Operations Command, this was a personal matter, so he couldn’t use them.

Most of the people he passed were military personnel, but he noticed a few settlers here and there. They walked with bright smiles, excited about their new lives in this frontier.

The vibrant energy of Odin’s floating fortress hinted at the bright future of the St Vault Empire.

Yet in its shadows, two Akitsu citizens were being tortured, forced to give false confessions.

"That's just how it is."

Balthazar spoke aloud, as if to convince himself.

"An individual can't do anything about it. It's the flow of history."

He muttered the words to himself like a mantra, trying to impress them upon his rational mind.

"Don't get swept up by meaningless emotions. There's nothing to gain from it."

The post office came into view. He could send a telegram to Cecil saying, "They're safe," and the job would be done. As promised, Cecil would secure cooperation from the Sylvanian royal family.

"That's enough, isn't it? It’s an easy job."

Balthazar quickened his pace, as if trying to outrun something.

‘You're not as cold-hearted as you think.’

Kagura's smile, from the time they had walked together on the beach of Mauregan Island, resurfaced in his mind.

‘I’m happy you came. That's enough for me. Please tell Cecil I’m doing fine. Even if it’s a lie.’

Overlaid on that smile was the image of Kagura, bound by chains, her head hanging low, speaking those words.

Balthazar’s heart burned.

From deep within his soul, an overwhelming torrent of emotion surged again, sending heat coursing through his entire body.

—Hey, Kagura.

—You're not the kind of woman to hang your head like that.

These thoughts rose unbidden in his mind.

"Ridiculous. These are cheap emotions. They bring no benefit."

He tried to deny it with words.

But his heart wouldn't stop screaming.

—You’re not the kind of woman who cries like that.

"I don’t care. It’s none of my business."

Dragging his trembling hands and feet, Balthazar entered the post office.

"A telegram."

He forced the words out to the clerk.

—You’re meant to stand tall, proud, with the cool wind at your back.

"I don’t care."

—You're supposed to be facing forward, walking with confidence.

"Am I an idiot?"

—Stop hanging your head, Kagura.

"I don’t care."

—I want to see your face again.

"A telegram."

The clerk, eyeing him suspiciously, asked for the message.

If he sent a single telegram saying, "They're safe," to Cecil, the task would be over.

It would bring him one step closer to his grand ambition. If he sent a lie, claiming "they're safe," he could shake off this accursed emotion.

—I will not be controlled by my emotions. Never.

The clerk asked what the message should say.

As Balthazar departed, Kagura, with her right hand bound by the chain from the ceiling, struggled to suppress the scream that was rising inside her.

She couldn’t let it out.

Holding herself back, she waited until she could no longer hear the footsteps of Balthazar and the officer before finally releasing the words that had been stuck in her throat.

"Help me."

In the darkness, a faint whisper escaped.

"Help me, Balthazar."

The true voice of her heart, which had been buried beneath laughter and tears, finally leaked out into the darkness.

"I'm scared. So very scared."

Still staring intently at the floor, Kagura bit down on her weakness.

She had been captured, chained in this cell, forced to give false confessions, and subjected to the violence of the military police.

She had always thought of herself as a samurai, someone who lived with death as a constant companion. She believed that. But now, in this dire situation, facing a humiliating death, she realized something for the first time.

—I’m just a coward.

Born into a samurai family, raised from childhood with Bushido drilled into her very bones, she had lived her life focused solely on "how to die." Or so she thought.

And yet…

"I'm scared, Balthazar."

Her voice trembled.

"I don’t want to die like this."

Now, in the darkness, Kagura laid bare her true feelings, the ones she had never shown in front of Balthazar.

She had discovered a part of herself she hadn’t known.

A weak, pitiful self, terrified of violence and filled with cowardice.

Kagura held onto that part of herself, all alone.

"Sometimes, it's okay to lean on others," she had once told Balthazar when they had walked together along the beach on Mauregan Island.

Those words now echoed back to Kagura herself.

—I want to lean on someone. I want to lean on my comrades.

If she could have clung to Balthazar and asked him to save her—maybe, just maybe, he would have done everything in his power to rescue them from this place.

Kagura was now fully aware of the desire inside her to depend on someone else.

But she also knew better than anyone that she couldn’t allow herself to show that weakness.

She couldn’t let anyone see her like this. She wouldn’t. Because if she did, she knew it would destroy the lives of her comrades.

—The only way for us to escape this prison is to break military law.

—But if we do that…

—Balthazar, Cecil, Illia, Reiner… We would ruin their futures.

That’s why, when Balthazar had come, she had hidden her true feelings, teased him, joked around, and sent him away. She hadn’t meant to cry, but seeing Balthazar’s genuine side for the first time was so endearing, so precious, that the tears wouldn’t stop.

But that had been enough.

Balthazar’s sincerity had touched her deeply, giving her the greatest joy and the warmest tears she had ever experienced.

—I can’t ask for anything more.

Kagura held herself back, suppressing her fear as she hung her head.

The only consolation was that Balthazar hadn’t seen her face, swollen and bruised from the beatings. She wanted him to remember her as she had been—full of confidence, walking proudly across the land.

"Thank you, Balthazar. It’s more than enough."

Swallowing her rising fear, Kagura whispered her farewell in the darkness.

After a long, long week, the day had finally come.

As soon as Cecil Hauer received the telegram from the postal worker at the Selfaust Military Academy, she ran toward the courtyard.

She had to read the telegram alone. No one else in her shared room could hear its contents.

It was a late August afternoon.

The academy had entered a short summer break, and there was no one else in the courtyard.

The strong sunlight made the green of the grass even more vibrant, and the scent of the rain from the morning shower rose thickly from the wet grass beneath her feet.

Cecil held the telegram in both hands, unable to break the seal.

She was scared to look inside.

Everything would be decided by the contents of this telegram from Balthazar.

Inside would be the message that would determine the fate of Kiyoaki and Kagura and change the bond between "The Seven of Eriadore" forever.

She was afraid. She couldn't open it.

Cecil took deep breaths again and again.

Her trembling hands tried to tear the seal, but she hesitated and pulled them back.

Finally, she pressed her forehead against the telegram and prayed.

"Please... Captain. Don't shatter my hope."

She pleaded.

"I want to believe in you, Captain. That you're not a terrible person."

She wanted to believe that deep down, beneath that cold-blooded exterior, there was at least a grain of humanity in him.

"We're comrades bound by our oath."

The oath made by the seven of them after their perilous mission aboard the Eriadore airship.

She wanted to believe that the promise they made also lived in Balthazar's heart.

And if, by any chance, Balthazar wasn't the man she hoped he was...

—I won’t let you get close to the Sylvania royal family.

—I’ll cut every tie that connects you to the royal family.

That was Cecil's resolve.

—Please. Don't make me come to that decision.

Calming her thoughts and steadying herself, she looked at the telegram with resolve. Her trembling hands finally opened it.

Inside was a single sheet of paper.

The message that would decide Kiyoaki and Kagura's fate was written here.

She gazed up at the sky, took one last deep breath, and lowered her eyes to the document.

What entered her vision was an utterly plain, emotionless sentence, a reflection of Balthazar's personality.

"Secure transportation for the two."

Cecil let the brief sentence sink deep into her chest.

She read it twice, three times.

No matter how many times she read it, it was a purely factual, unadorned message.

Hugging the telegram close to her chest, Cecil closed her eyes.

The curt message, sent with a sense of reluctance, gently warmed her heart, slowly spreading through her soul.

"Captain..."

She spoke his name.

"Captain..."

From the single sentence pressed to her chest, something so pure and powerful overflowed and touched the deepest part of her soul.

"I love you, Captain."

Tears flowed uncontrollably.

"Thank you, Captain. I love you. I love you."

Beneath the cold mask Balthazar always wore, such noble and warm human blood flowed.

"Captain. Captain. Captain..."

Hugging the telegram tightly, Cecil cried and laughed, repeating his name over and over. She didn't bother to wipe away her tears. As the August sun beat down from above, her heart felt completely connected to Balthazar.

Balthazar was going to break the law and help Kiyoaki and Kagura escape from prison.

And Cecil's task was to secure transportation to return the two to the Akitsu Federation. If she could work with Balthazar, the jailbreak plan would no longer be a pipe dream. This telegram from Balthazar signified his agreement to cooperate with Cecil.

The tears showed no sign of stopping.

Humans don’t only cry from sadness. In moments of great joy, they can shed just as many tears.

"I love you. I love you. I love you..."

Hugging the telegram filled with Balthazar’s sincerity, Cecil repeated the words through her tears.

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you..."

The torment she had endured from Balthazar in the past had completely vanished. She now adored and respected the humanity that had always been hidden within that cold-blooded man.

"For the rest of my life, I will trust you. Captain. Captain. Captain..."

If Balthazar were here right now, she would embrace him tightly and cry into his uniform, smearing it with her tears and snot until he was utterly bewildered.

"I’ll repay you. What you’ve given me, I’ll return it tenfold, a hundredfold."

The Sylvania royal family had now pledged eternal trust in Balthazar Grimm.

And then—

With her face soaked in tears, Cecil looked up at the summer sky.

A deep, rich blue filled her entire vision.

It was a grand, pure sky, as if imbued with someone’s will.

Cecil understood what she had to do.

She couldn’t let Balthazar bear the burden alone.

She, too, had to abandon her selfish desires and devote everything to the greater cause.

Wiping her eyes roughly with her arm, Cecil fought to hold back the flood of tears, and determination settled into her gaze.

There was something she had to do.

Something only she could accomplish at this moment.

And to do that, she could no longer remain Cecil Hauer.

—I will accept my destiny.

She would no longer run from her true name.

Even if the lives of those close to her were sacrificed for the restoration of the royal family.

Even if this decision invited new clouds of war to the archipelago.

—I will take the name of the king and change the world, even if only a little.

Looking up at the sky, she filled her lungs with the untainted blue, and the lost princess bid farewell to the false name she had carried.

—Goodbye, Cecil Hauer.

The tears streaming down her cheeks dissolved into the radiant light of midsummer.

—I am Elisabeth Sylvania.

Beyond the summer sky she gazed upon, the Valkyrie flag fluttered.

The flag of the strongest wings in the world, reigning over the skies Elisabeth pointed to.

Amid the rich blue expanse, the warriors of the heavens called out with a resounding cry.

—Let’s go.

Elisabeth turned on her heel. Every strategy needed to deliver Kiyoaki and Kagura safely back to the Akitsu Federation took shape in her mind.

Once the two were safely returned to the Federation, it would mean unavoidable conflict with the St Vault Empire. The seven members of Eriadore would be divided into enemies and allies, perhaps even meeting each other on the battlefield.

But.

—Even if we are divided as enemies, we will never hate one another.

—Our friendship is eternal.

The oath we made binds us.

What lies ahead on this path is not hatred.

One day, we will meet again, and we will exchange smiles.

—I will restore the royal family.

With this resolve etched into the core of her soul, Elisabeth decided to contact Colette first to arrange a meeting with the Akitsu Federation ambassador.

Late.

At the operations headquarters of the flying fortress Odin, Balthazar waited impatiently for Cecil’s reply.

The telegram he sent yesterday should have already arrived. There should have been some response by now, but Balthazar had no idea how Cecil intended to contact him. While a telegram would be the quickest method, rescuing Kiyoaki and Kagura would require more secure communication. Time was running out. If he left Kiyoaki and Kagura as they were, it wouldn’t be long before they were forced to provide false confessions and face execution by firing squad.

—Hurry, Cecil.

Balthazar's eyes were bloodshot. The image of Kagura, with her right arm chained and head hanging low, was burned into his vision, refusing to fade.

Seated deeply in a chair, arms crossed, Balthazar glared into the empty space before him, unmoving.

He had conveyed his intent to Cecil.

Even though he knew it wouldn’t benefit him in any way, he had done it anyway. He stopped trying to rationalize why.

—It doesn’t matter anymore.

—I just want to eliminate this inexplicable anxiety from my mind.

He hadn’t been able to focus on work all day. This was a first for him. His mind was completely consumed by the thought of Kagura in captivity, preventing him from handling any other tasks. Even he didn’t understand why this was happening to him.

As he sat there, stewing in impatience, an officer from the telegraph room approached him.

"Lieutenant Grimm, there’s a phone call for you."

The moment Balthazar heard those words, he jumped to his feet, kicking the chair back.

"I’ll be right there."

The intensity of his reaction startled the officer for a moment.

—A phone call, of all things!

He bounded up the stairs two steps at a time, heading toward the only telephone in the operations headquarters on the third floor.

The phone lines had only recently been installed, and only a select few military officials, high-ranking bureaucrats, and government dignitaries knew the number. The people who could use it were very limited.

Who could it be?

Catching his breath, he put the receiver to his ear.

"This is Grimm. I apologize for the wait."

A polished, refined female voice answered.

"This is Colette Avery. It’s been a while, Lieutenant Grimm."

A chill shot through him.

An indescribable shudder coursed through his body.

—I’ve hit the jackpot.

"It’s been a while. I owe you for your help back then."

"I’d love to catch up, but the phone bill would be astronomical. I’ll get straight to the point."

"Understood."

Balthazar instinctively straightened his posture, waiting for Colette's naturally dignified words.

"In the name of Elisabeth Sylvania, I request that you return Kiyoaki Sakagami and Kagura Murasaki safely to their homeland."

His legs trembled.

He couldn’t stop his lips from quivering.

—So, it’s true.

Cold sweat trickled down from his temples.

—Cecil, you really are Elisabeth!

"The princess is alive, then," he asked, struggling to suppress his shaking.

"Once the two are safely returned, I will answer that. Until then, I cannot respond to any questions regarding the princess."

His heart raced. Though he tried to maintain his composure, Balthazar’s mind struggled to keep up with the sudden turn of events.

"My husband’s subordinate is in Odin. We’ll coordinate the escape plan through him. I will also be coming to Odin soon."

"Understood."

"You are to devise a plan to free the two from prison, Lieutenant. The royal family will take responsibility for their return to their homeland."

"Yes, ma'am!!"

Straightening his back, he responded, and the call ended.

He returned the receiver and took a deep breath.

He realized just how serious the situation had become.

The entire exchange had been heard by his superiors at operations headquarters. The content recorded on tape would soon reach the officers.

—If it’s revealed that I’m breaking military law...

—That means my career is over...

Balthazar accepted that reality.

For so long, he had played along, performing menial tasks in silence, continuously winning war games and simulations. He was convinced that his future held a path to becoming Chief of Staff, as the abilities of his peers were nothing to be concerned about.

Everything he had steadily built since his academy days, all the achievements he had accumulated, would now be forfeit.

—But.

In his mind, he saw Kagura, hanging from the chains.

Kagura, her head lowered, never raising her face.

—If that image will disappear.

—If Kagura will smile again in its place.

He clenched his fists so tightly they bled.

There was no regret in his resolve. He reassured himself of that.

"Wait for me, Kagura."

Seething with anger, Balthazar stormed back to his desk.

Glaring into the void, he began formulating a plan to break the two out of prison.

"I’ll get you out of there."

At that moment, the door to the office opened.

Colonel Andy Bott, his superior in the intelligence division, approached Balthazar with a graceful stride.

The colonel had likely already learned the contents of the phone call. He stopped in front of Balthazar, his eyes glinting with intelligence behind his glasses.

"Do as you wish, Lieutenant Grim."

The colonel said with a slight smile, his gaze clearly indicating approval for a capable subordinate.

"If you’ve learned to understand human emotions, you have nothing left to fear."

With that cryptic remark, the colonel turned on his heel and returned to his office.

"Understanding the subtleties of human emotion is best learned through interaction with friends."

The words Colonel Andy had once said echoed in Balthazar’s mind. He still didn’t fully understand why such a thing was so important. But he did understand that his superior had given him tacit approval to act freely.

—I can do whatever I want.

—Whatever I want.

He felt a surge of determination. If the operations headquarters was going to overlook his actions, there was no greater stroke of luck. He could now execute the prison break plan without fear of military repercussions, taking full responsibility for it on his own.

—I will see this through, no matter what.

With that determination, Balthazar began formulating a detailed plan in his mind to safely deliver the two of them to the Akitsu Federation.

Part 12 (Part 5 of Volume 5)

Only a small number of trusted people would participate in the plan.

For the execution, two people would be enough for the jailbreak, plus one driver.

That meant the participants were obvious.

"I’m only leading this rescue operation because Cecil requested it. Do either of you object?"

Sitting on a wooden bench in a public park on the outskirts of Odin City, Balthazar crossed his arms and addressed Illia and Reiner, who sat across from him.

Illia leaned forward, her eyes sparkling more than usual, with her hands on her knees.

Reiner, on the other hand, looked at Balthazar with a sceptical expression and straightforwardly asked,

"Why are you going this far for Cecil?"

"Is that a problem?"

"No, not really... Fine, understood."

Apparently bored with questioning, Reiner shrugged and turned away indifferently.

Balthazar began explaining the plan.

"You and I will infiltrate the jail. You will free Sakagami, and I will free Kagura. Then we will escape the station. Illia will wait with the car, pick us up, and drive us to the outer perimeter of Odin. We’ll give them parachutes and have them descend from the island. That’s the outline, but the real challenge is how to accomplish it."

Illia pondered for a moment and then asked,

"How do we break into the police station’s underground jail and free them? And how do we ensure they rendezvous with the Federation’s recovery ship after they parachute? Those are the two main challenges, right?"

"Exactly. For now, the three of us will focus on the rescue part. Another group is handling their transfer out of the country."

Reiner raised an eyebrow.

"Another group?"

Balthazar glanced at Reiner.

"I can’t tell you. The less you know about them, the safer we all are."

"Not trusting us, huh?"

"If you were captured and given truth serum, it would put them at risk. It’s safer for everyone if you don’t know."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it."

Reiner shrugged again while Illia, beside him, raised her hand with a suggestion.

"I think the Voltec Air Force crew might help us. They’re furious at the military police and are willing to use some force."

"That’s encouraging, but we need to keep control of the critical information within this small group. The more people involved, the greater the risk of exposure or betrayal."

"But there are, like, two hundred military police officers in Odin, right? How do just the three of us handle that? We can’t exactly kill any of them."

"We’ll need a diversion. We’ll create a commotion on Odin’s surface, draw the military police away, and break into the police station while it’s undermanned. The question is how."

Balthazar outlined the preliminary plan to Reiner and Illia, who both fell into thought.

"That does seem like the only way," Illia nodded. Reiner crossed his arms and looked down at the table.

"Yeah, but the real issue is how many military police officers are still inside when we sneak in. If they spot us, it’s over. We can’t just kill cops."

"Good observation for once. That’s true. We don’t yet have a complete picture of what to do once inside."

Balthazar admitted honestly, and Reiner, after a moment of deep thought, finally looked up with a rare serious expression.

"Uh, just give me a little time. I might be able to work something out."

"What are you planning?"

"Well, for example…"

Reiner explained his idea to Balthazar, who listened, arms folded.

"If that works, it would be a stroke of luck…"

"It’s worth a try. I’ll need two days to get it ready."

"Better than doing nothing. I’ll leave it to you."

Illia raised her hand again to ask another question.

"The problem is timing. How will we know when the Federation’s extraction team will arrive? Without that information, the entire plan could fall apart."

"I’ll coordinate with the other group. Yes, the most difficult part will be synchronizing the timing. The Odin sea area is completely controlled by the St Vault military, so the Federation will likely send a submarine. But the time it can remain in the area will be limited. If we free the two of them at the wrong time, they could be recaptured by the military police."

"Sounds tough. And if we fail, our lives are over too, right? Spending the rest of our lives in a military prison is not something I’m looking forward to."

"There’s no room for failure here. We must succeed, no matter what. We have to use every resource we have."

When Balthazar declared this, Illia nodded resolutely.

"Yes. I’ll give it everything. We will free them."

"Yeah, yeah, I’ll do my best too. It’d be pretty sad if Kagura stays like that."

Despite his casual tone, Reiner agreed. The three of them spent the entire afternoon refining the plan and assigning their roles before disbanding.

After seeing Illia and Reiner off as they returned to Odin’s third airfield, Balthazar turned around and hailed a carriage, heading toward a luxury hotel in the uptown area.

The next person he needed to meet had arrived late last night on the flying fortress.

"Oh my, you’ve become quite the handsome man, Lieutenant Grimm," greeted Colette Avery with a graceful smile, as she welcomed Balthazar in the top-floor VIP suite.

"Your gaze is splendid. Much better than when we last met. Please, have a seat," she added, gesturing elegantly toward a leather sofa.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Your Highness. Excuse me," Balthazar replied, removing his military cap and taking a seat. Through the large glass windows of the spacious suite, the entire landscape of Odin was visible. This hotel, once used by Urano, had been repurposed, though there was little noticeable difference in style compared to St Vault.

"I thought I would feel more of Urano's culture being here, but strangely, I don’t sense much difference between us," Colette mused.

"The people of Urano pride themselves on having planted the seeds of culture on the surface world. I believe that sentiment is even written into Urano’s divine myths," Balthazar explained.

"That elitist mentality is quite grating, isn’t it? Their disdain for the surface is deeply ingrained, which is probably why the conflict never ends."

"You’re absolutely right, Your Highness. The sooner these foolish wars end, the better," Balthazar replied, though internally, he restrained himself from asking about the Sylvanian royal family. During their previous phone conversation, he had been strictly forbidden from discussing it, and the frustration gnawed at him. After exchanging a few more objective opinions on the principles governing Urano's actions, Balthazar shifted the conversation to the main topic.

"As for the transportation arrangements for the two individuals, how are they progressing?" he asked.

Sipping her tea, Colette’s expression turned serious.

"I’ve made a request to the Akitsu Federation ambassador in the name of the Sylvanian royal family. They’ve promised to handle it, but the problem is that there’s no reliable way to contact the island."

Balthazar had anticipated this issue. Even if the Akitsu Federation sent a ship to pick them up, they had no way of knowing when it would arrive directly beneath Odin.

"Is there no way for the ambassador to inform you via telephone?"

"If the ambassador were to call me, the intelligence agency would intercept it immediately. Even though your superior is cooperating, he doesn’t have the authority to interfere with the intelligence agency’s operations."

"…Indeed. However, if we don’t know when the ship will arrive, even if we parachute the two of them, they’ll be found by the St Vault Navy and recaptured. We need to retrieve them the moment they hit the water, or this operation will fail."

"Exactly. But how can we possibly communicate the timing from the Akitsu Federation military to you on Odin? I can’t even imagine how."

Balthazar sank deep into the sofa, staring up at the ceiling.

Relaying classified information from the enemy military to a St Vault officer.

If they used phones or telegrams, it would be intercepted immediately. The key to success hinged on finding a way to learn when the ship would arrive swiftly and covertly.

"What about using carrier pigeons? It would take time to set up, but…"

"That would be too slow. We need the information as quickly as possible, or it’s meaningless."

"What if we set the date ourselves in advance?"

"That depends on the Federation. If they’re risking a valuable submarine by sending it into enemy-controlled waters, they’ll need coordination between the high command, the combined fleet, and related departments. Plus, weather conditions on the day are a critical factor. We have no way of knowing when the preparations will be complete and the orders to launch will be given."

"Looks like we’re stuck. We can’t just act on a gamble, either."

"There’s no room for failure. We need to plan a strategy that guarantees success on our own."

"This is giving me a headache. I’m counting on you, elite lieutenant," Colette said, abandoning the problem as she stood up, grabbed a vintage bottle of wine from the cellar, and began pouring herself a glass.

Balthazar remained seated, arms crossed, glaring alternately at the ceiling and the table, before standing up and pacing around the room.

Gazing out at the hazy landscape of Odin through the glass, he muttered a few short words to himself, before turning back, arms still crossed, continuing to walk in circles. Colette, unconcerned, simply enjoyed her wine.

—A way for the Federation military to contact me quickly…

—If I don’t figure this out, Kagura will remain imprisoned…

The thought alone made his stomach twist. The idea that Kagura could be suffering abuse from the military police at this very moment drove him to the brink.

"Think. Think. Think…!"

He finally voiced his thoughts aloud, urging himself on.

"Don’t give up. There has to be a way…!"

Shaking his head from side to side, arms tightly crossed, Balthazar continued to scan the room, his bloodshot eyes darting between the landscape outside and the room inside.

"Not telegrams, not wireless radio, not phones… a way to send information quickly…!"

But where could such a convenient method possibly exist?

If such a means of communication were available, the military would already be using it...

As his mind raced feverishly, Balthazar’s gaze landed on a household appliance across the glass table.

"…A radio…"

A common civilian device. But something clicked in Balthazar’s brain.

"…Radio waves…!"

Balthazar rushed to the tabletop radio, turning it on and adjusting the dial. He tuned it to a familiar frequency, and a static-laden female voice came through the speakers.

"Greetings to you hapless St Vault soldiers, your wives back home are probably enjoying themselves while you’re stuck here. Here’s some news from your lively Samurai boys, just for you."

It was the enemy shortwave radio program broadcast by the Akitsu Federation to demoralize the St Vault Navy and Air Force. The female DJ, known affectionately as "Misa Rose," had a sultry voice and was popular among St Vault soldiers.

Balthazar clenched his fist.

"There it is…!"

He leaned forward, excitement brimming. Colette turned around, puzzled.

"Did you come up with something?"

Balthazar stood tall and turned to face Colette, unable to hide his excitement.

"Your Highness, I have a proposal."

Colette, sipping her wine occasionally as she listened to Balthazar's idea, finally raised her glass with a light smile.

"A toast to the future Chief of Staff."

Without attempting to conceal her satisfaction, Colette offered Balthazar the highest praise.

After surveying the police station where Kiyoaki and Kagura were being held, Illia opened the throttle on her beloved 400cc red full-fairing motorcycle, accelerating swiftly through the streets of Odin. In less than five minutes, she had exited the urban centre and reached the outskirts. She rode around the city's perimeter, getting a feel for the layout, before arriving at a deserted residential area.

This neighbourhood had once been home to the upper-class Uranos people when this airborne island was still known as Kalkinos. During the Battle of Sierra Greed, when the St Vault ground forces landed and secured the surface, over 7,000 non-combatant Uranos residents surrendered without a fight and were sent to internment camps on the ground. These once-luxurious homes were stripped, and now only desolation remained.

Illia shifted into low gear, slowing to a crawl as she inspected the area. It was devoid of life. She parked her bike in an alley surrounded by grand houses and began walking, taking in the surroundings.

Magnificent homes lined the streets, all three or four stories tall, with wide lawns and pools visible from above. Though they needed some repairs, these once-opulent estates were now abandoned. With the former owners taken to internment camps, these properties were being sold at bargain prices compared to homes on the ground. As a result, Odin had received a flood of applications from citizens eager to settle here, with competition rumoured to be thirty times higher than available spots.

"This area looks perfect," Illia murmured to herself, nodding before turning back to her bike.

She donned her helmet and kick-started the engine, letting the rumbling of the motor drown out her thoughts. As she sped through the outskirts of the city, her thoughts were consumed by Kiyoaki.

Wait for me, Sakagami.

I won’t abandon you. I’ll save you, no matter what.

The current state of Kiyoaki, as described by Balthazar, tore at her heart. If only she could endure even a fraction of the violence inflicted upon him, she would, to ease his pain. She let her anguish feed her speed, accelerating until the landscape blurred into oblivion.

As the scenery melted away, her mind drifted to memories of Kiyoaki.

She remembered sitting next to him in the cockpit of the Eriadore, gazing at the Etika meteor shower. Kiyoaki had told her how much his father, Sakagami Masaharu, had respected Karsten. At that time, Illia hadn’t believed it, but now she understood the truth of Masaharu’s death. The same selfless nature that led Masaharu to sacrifice himself for a child had clearly been passed down to Kiyoaki.

The countless hours spent sparring in the Air Hunt Officer Academy’s gymnasium came to mind. How they would stare each other down, breath held, carefully reading each movement before striking with their swords. Time and again, they clashed blades, honing not only their combat skills but the bond between their souls.

Then there was the mock air battle, witnessed by the citizens of both St Vault and the Akitsu Federation. High above the island, they duelled one-on-one, an intense competition that made Illia realize, for the first time, the joy of flying. She had found Kiyoaki beautiful in that moment, as they danced together in the skies, feeling as if their very beings had melded.

Even after joining the Voltec Air Squadron, they flew side by side more often than not. She remembered how she once pretended to be drunk on the beach, just so he would carry her, pressing her cheek against his back. Her face reddened at the memory, but Kiyoaki hadn’t seemed to mind. He accepted her, flaws and all.

Thanks to you, I am who I am today, Sakagami.

So this is my way of repaying you.

I’ll return the favour. Everything you’ve given me, I’ll give back.

Reaching the edge of Odin, Illia parked her bike. She walked to the very brink of the island, where the faint smell of saltwater lingered in the air. Peering over the edge, she saw the shimmering sea two thousand meters below, reflecting the bright summer sunlight. When Kiyoaki and Kagura escaped, they would leap from somewhere along this edge, using parachutes to descend.

This is where we say goodbye.

We’ll never meet again.

The wind whipped through her hair, and her chest tightened painfully.

We’ll be on opposite sides, won’t we?

Helping Kiyoaki and Kagura escape meant they would return to the Akitsu Federation as soldiers in the Second Archipelago War, potentially facing the Voltec Squadron on the battlefield. Illia thought back to the oath they had taken together.

“Even if we become enemies, we will never hate each other. Our friendship is eternal.”

The casual oath they had sworn in the past might soon become a crushing reality for all seven of them. Illia closed her eyes, feeling the wind as she contemplated the uncertain future.

But she couldn’t let them remain prisoners. If she did nothing, Kiyoaki and Kagura would be branded as spies and executed. They had to be freed, or there would be no future for them at all.

No matter where fate takes us...

Illia opened her eyes and gazed up at the summer sky.

We will never hate each other.

She would hold on to that vow, doing everything in her power to change their current fate. Determined, she mounted her bike again and opened the throttle wide.

Though the future was shrouded in darkness, she would break through that wall with everything she had. She couldn’t know what lay ahead, but she was resolved to push forward with everything she had built up inside her.

I will trust in this path.

Pushing aside all hesitation, Illia sped away, the world around her once again melting into a blur.

Balthazar sat, glued to the radio, listening intently to the voice of Misa Rose. It had been four days since his meeting with Colette, and now, he was waiting for the critical signal. The team had been instructed—Ilia and Reiner included—to listen carefully to Misa Rose's broadcast for any mention of "the message." They didn't know when it would come, and the nature of the operation demanded secrecy, so the usual tactics of mass surveillance weren't an option. As a result, Balthazar had barely slept, clinging to the radio, awaiting the vital information.

"You bumbling fools of St Vault, how did you enjoy Odessa? The brave men of the Third Kristar Regiment sure had a long journey, and it seems poor Lakefield has been relieved of duty," the broadcast sneered.

The content was mostly repetitive propaganda, designed to demoralize St Vault soldiers by stoking homesickness and eroding their morale. Balthazar had heard it so many times he could recite it by heart. His chest was filled with both irritation and fatigue, but missing even a single word would mean failure. His bloodshot eyes remained fixed on the radio, focusing through the droning voice.

He sharpened his attention, listening for the moment the broadcast would change—today, tomorrow, next week, or even next month. He didn’t know when the message would come, but he knew that, eventually, it would. Until then, he couldn’t afford to move from his spot.

Thanks to Colonel Andy's intervention, Balthazar was technically participating in the Santos Island civilian pacification project. The cover allowed him time and space to focus on this mission. If the operation to free Kiyoaki and Kagura succeeded, he could expect substantial rewards from the Sylvania royal family. This would be another great achievement for him, just like when he helped foil Uranos’s Judeka operation.

This is why I’m working so hard. For my promotion, not for Murasaki or Sakagami.

I’m doing this for myself.

Balthazar reassured himself, like a statue before the radio, trying to dismiss the memories of Kagura’s suspended figure. Every time her image crossed his mind, he shook his head, muttering to himself, "It doesn't matter. I don’t care about Murasaki. I'm doing this for my own advancement."

Misa Rose's voice continued to flow from the speakers, the same monotonous provocation.

"Thanks to you, we've reclaimed Messus Island, Odessa. The Samurai Boys are pleased with the defeat of the weakling Lakefield you left behind. What a delightful battle it was."

She wasn't wrong—Messus Island, Odessa, had fallen to the Akitsu Federation. The triangular conflict between Uranos, St Vault, and the Federation had resulted in a Federation victory, largely due to their superior supply logistics.

"Keeping those flares going all night must’ve been exhausting for you. Meanwhile, back home, your wives are resting peacefully with their high school friends. Oh, and the Samurai Boys? They’ll be giving you a little night-time surprise."

At this point, Balthazar could almost mouth the words along with the broadcast. He had heard it hundreds of times. Irritation surged, but he couldn’t risk missing the crucial message. His sleep-deprived eyes were swollen, but he kept his focus.

Then, finally, the words he had been waiting for:

"Oh yes, on September 1st at 6 p.m., the ship of the moon will come to collect the princess. It will wait only thirty minutes for her and her attendants to descend."

The long-awaited message had arrived. The code phrase “ship of the moon” referred to the submarine. Balthazar’s eyes widened.

The rescue submarine is coming!

He shot to his feet, his heart pounding.

“September 1st, 6 p.m.,” he muttered to himself, quickly scribbling the details in his notebook. He checked the calendar—September 1st was two days away.

Only two days!

Joy surged through him, and he clenched his fists in triumph. The response was faster than expected. The involvement of the Sylvania royal family had undoubtedly spurred the Akitsu Federation into swift action. While the quick timing was exciting, it left little room for preparation.

Without wasting a moment, Balthazar secured permission to leave for an "external meeting" and rushed out of the operations centre. He hailed a taxi and headed straight for the Odin Third Airfield, where the Voltec Squadron was stationed. His only reliable allies were Illia and Reiner, and they needed to finalize their plans for the rescue immediately.

During the taxi ride, he found himself biting his nails—a habit he didn’t remember developing. The mounting anxiety gnawed at him, manifesting in this unconscious action.

Wait for me, Murasaki. It’s almost time.

The words slipped out involuntarily, and he quickly shook his head to clear them.

“This is for my career, not Murasaki,” he muttered, noticing the driver eyeing him suspiciously in the rear-view mirror.

“Hurry up, please,” he added, redirecting the awkwardness.

Upon reaching the Third Airfield, Balthazar jumped out of the taxi, barely waiting to pay the fare, and made his way to the barracks with long strides.

“Two days, Illia,” he announced as soon as he saw her. Her face brightened for a moment before she composed herself, nodding firmly.

“I understand.”

As Illia nodded resolutely, two figures appeared, grabbing her by the arms.

"Now, now, Illia, what are you up to without telling us?" said one of the twins.

"We won’t let go until you tell us everything," chimed the other.

Lulu and Lala Scott, the mischievous twin pilots, flashed sly smiles at Balthazar.

“We know who you are, Balthazar of the Eriadore Seven. You’re rescuing Kiyoaki and Kagura, right? We’ll help you with whatever you need—just say the word!”

“We're all mad at the military police, so if you need us to shoot or blow something up, just say the word, right, Balbal?”

With playful persistence, they threw their support at Balthazar. Illia turned to him, her expression serious.

“...They’re trustworthy. I believe they can be a great help.”

Before Balthazar could respond, a commanding voice from behind interrupted.

“I can’t openly assist, but I can help from the shadows. Let me be part of this mission, Lieutenant Grimm.”

Balthazar turned to face none other than Leo Rosenmuller, St Vault’s national hero and ace pilot.

“You’ll need more hands, won’t you? Leave it to us.”

Balthazar raised a sharp question, still doubtful.

“Captain Rosenmuller, this mission offers you nothing. You stand to lose everything if we fail.”

Leo chuckled, his sombre face breaking into a half-smile as he answered.

“Would you trust an officer who leaves his men behind because of a cost-benefit analysis, Lieutenant?”

Balthazar fell silent.

“Kagura and Sakagami are my subordinates. What’s wrong with saving them? Let's discuss the details at the briefing. This will succeed—with all of us together.”

Without waiting for a reply, Leo strode toward the briefing room. Illia looked up at Balthazar, her expression earnest.

“Let’s trust them, Balthazar. With everyone’s help, we can pull this off.”

Still hesitant, Balthazar felt a push from behind as Lulu and Lala nudged him forward without a shred of reservation.

"Hurry, hurry!"

"There's no time, right? Let's get going, quickly!"

Reluctantly, Balthazar, with no other choice, was led away by Lulu and Lala. He had wanted to keep the plan as secret as possible, but it seemed that wasn't going to happen. However, there was no doubt that they were reliable allies.

──It can't be helped. We definitely need more people…

Resigned, Balthazar began assembling the details of the escape plan in his head.

Part 13 (Part 6 of Volume 5)

September 1, Imperial Calendar Year 1349, 16:00──

Anton, a delivery service employee for "Delivery Dinner," and Roy, a part-time worker, had just finished loading blue cases filled with food onto their light truck. As they were about to leave the garage to make a delivery to the Odin Police Station, they encountered an obstacle in the road.

A luxurious limousine had stopped, blocking the road as if intentionally preventing Anton from exiting the garage. There was no way to get onto the street. Anton honked the horn repeatedly, but the woman in the driver’s seat, wearing sunglasses, only waved her hands apologetically, indicating trouble. Apparently, the engine had malfunctioned.

"Hey, what the hell are you doing! Don’t park there!"

Anton shouted angrily as he got out of the truck and approached the limousine. The woman also exited the car and removed her sunglasses.

"You can’t just park—"

Anton’s words trailed off.

Golden hair shimmering in the summer sunlight. Eyes as green as a deep forest lake. Her sharp, yet elegant facial features, and a body sculpted like a string instrument. Before Anton stood a woman who looked like a goddess from a myth, gazing at him with a fragile expression.

"I’m so sorry. The engine just won’t start…"

Her black outer camisole hung loosely by straps from her shoulders. The neckline was low, revealing ample cleavage, and her short skirt extended down her graceful legs to delicate ankles wrapped in thin summer heels that made one question if she could even press the gas pedal properly.

Anton gulped, instantly surrendering to the sight before him.

To hell with the delivery.

"Pop the hood. I’ll take a look for ya."

The goddess-like woman’s face lit up with a radiant smile that rivalled the sun.

"Will you really help me?"

Anton puffed out his chest proudly.

"Well, I can’t do my job if you’re blocking the way. If the food gets cold, the big shots at the police station will be mad. Now hurry up and open it."

The woman released the hood latch, and Anton opened it to inspect the battery.

"What the hell is this? The plug’s disconnected. No wonder the engine won’t start."

"Can you fix it?"

The woman leaned in close to examine the inside of the hood. Her ample chest was right there, her sweet fragrance filling Anton’s nose. Fixing the problem would only take a few minutes, but Anton wanted to savour this moment with the goddess for as long as possible.

"It’ll take a bit, but I got it. Hey, Roy! Bring me the wrench!"

Anton called out to his part-time worker for tools, then turned to the woman.

"Could you hold this for me?"

He pointed to the cover over the battery’s positive terminal.

"Here?"

"Yeah, or you’ll get shocked."

"Okay, got it."

The woman obediently pressed down on the cover with both thumbs.

"Don’t let go," Anton instructed as he leaned in closer, pretending to work while sneaking glances at her chest. He wished the moment would last forever, but then a sharp pain struck the back of his neck. His vision went dark, and his head slammed into the hood as he lost consciousness.

"Move 'em in! No one saw, right?"

Supporting Anton’s unconscious body, which had been knocked out with a karate chop, Reiner rushed back into the garage. Balthazar followed, carrying the similarly unconscious Roy, who had also been knocked out by Reiner.

Both Reiner and Balthazar were disguised with sunglasses, fake moustaches, and wigs. As members of the renowned "Seven of Eriadore," they couldn’t risk being recognized.

Reiner skilfully stripped the two men of their uniforms, leaving them in their underwear, tied them up with rope, and gagged them.

Meanwhile, the disguised beauty, Illia, blushed as she tightened the bolts with a wrench.

"Why would anyone need to hold the positive terminal!? This is ridiculous!"

Frustrated, she quickly reconnected the unplugged battery.

"What kind of idiot would disconnect this in the first place!? Are they mocking me!?"

Suppressing her anger, Illia finished the repairs and moved the limousine—borrowed from Voltec Squadron member McGuire—out of the way.

"Nice acting, Illia. The guy was totally smitten," Reiner chuckled, now wearing a "Delivery Dinner" uniform.

Illia shot a scornful look at him.

"I could feel his disgusting gaze on me the entire time," she retorted, clearly displeased with the outfit Reiner had chosen for her. She still couldn't understand why she had to expose so much skin.

"Hey, it worked, didn’t it? Oh, Balthazar, looking sharp in that apron!"

Balthazar, also wearing the delivery uniform, stepped out of the garage. He was dressed in a blue shirt and jeans, with a "Delivery Dinner" apron.

"Say one more word about this apron, and I’ll kill you," he muttered darkly.

"Come on, don’t start fighting now. I’ll drive, so hop in," Reiner said nonchalantly.

"Let’s go, Illia. You’ll take over on the way back," Balthazar ordered.

"Understood. I’ll be waiting at the station. Stay safe," Illia replied, getting back into the driver’s seat of the limousine.

Disguised as delivery men, Balthazar and Reiner climbed into the light truck, with Reiner taking the wheel.

"First hurdle cleared. Let’s see if we get lucky with the next one," Reiner remarked.

"No time for idle chatter. Let’s move," Balthazar snapped.

"Roger that," Reiner replied, starting the truck.

Their destination was, of course, the police station where Kagura and Kiyoaki were being held. Overhead, a Red Goat bomber from the routine patrol flew by.

September 1, Imperial Calendar Year 1349, 16:50──

High above the light truck Balthazar was riding in, a Red Goat bomber soared through the sky, piloted by Lulu and Lala.

Currently flying at an altitude of 5,000 meters, the floating island of Odin maintained an altitude of 2,000 meters, meaning there was a 3,000-meter gap between the island and the surface below.

"I wonder if BalBal pulled it off?"

"BalBal doesn’t seem very flexible, so I’m a little worried."

"Why does he get mad when we call him BalBal?"

"Right? It's cute, though."

Through the voice tube, the twin sisters chatted cheerfully as they completed their usual patrol mission, flying away from Odin’s surface and into the surrounding sea.

At 16:50, having finished their fan-shaped enemy search, Lulu and Lala returned to the skies over Odin and began searching for their pre-arranged target.

"Hmm, that’s the police station, and near it is the residential area…"

"There, over there, where all the big houses are lined up."

Lala pointed out the target, and Lulu squinted, confirming with her own eyes the "most effective landing zone" that Illia had described to them. The colourful, toy-block-like neighbourhood was spread out below in the slanted rays of the sun.

"Wow, those are some fancy houses! I’d love to live there!"

"Better find a rich husband. But first, let’s get ready. Did you strap on your parachute?"

"All good. Sorry, Red Goat, but this is for Kiyoaki and Kagura, so bear with us."

Lulu apologized to the unlucky bomber assigned to them for the day, then started to climb, circling as she carefully eyed the landing target. She lowered the nose of the plane.

"Here we go. Jumping at 3,000 meters!"

"Yay! Big adventure!"

Laughing excitedly, they continued to descend, the wind roaring around them.

At 4,000 meters, both Lulu and Lala opened the canopy and unfastened their seatbelts.

"Heading’s good! Prepare to bail!"

As soon as the altimeter needle hit 3,000 meters, the sisters shouted in unison:

"Jump!"

At the same moment, they leaped out of the plane.

As they plunged through the air, they watched the unmanned Red Goat descending below them and yelled out:

"Go, go!"

"Good luck, Red Goat!"

Spinning through the air, their parachutes opened, and Lulu and Lala floated gently down, watching as the Red Goat accelerated, wobbling slightly, before crashing into a corner of the upscale residential district.

Fuel remaining in the aircraft ignited, sending a massive column of fire into the sky.

"Bullseye!"

"Wow, what a huge explosion!"

A shockwave rippled across the surface of Odin, sending clouds of reddish-brown dust flying outward in a massive blast. Thick black smoke billowed into the air as burning debris scattered across the area. Soon, fires broke out, with orange flames flickering to life where the Red Goat had crashed. In a normal residential area, a plane crash like this would be a disaster, but Illia had chosen a vacant, uninhabited neighbourhood, so there were no casualties.

As Lulu and Lala descended further, they began to hear the commotion on the ground. Fire truck sirens wailed in the distance, and police cars were already racing to the crash site.

"We’re gonna get a big scolding from Mon-chan."

"Yeah, totally. Such a drag."

The twins laughed cheerfully as they floated down with the wind, heading for the rural outskirts of Odin.

Dressed in the uniform of "Delivery Dinner," Balthazar, with a nonchalant expression, was serving the police staff when suddenly a heavy reverberation was transmitted beneath his feet.

──It has begun.

He glanced at the clock on the wall of the dining hall inside the military police station. Exactly 5:00 PM. Right on schedule.

“What’s going on? A bombing!?”

“It’s close! Hey, what’s happening!?”

The military police officers eating dinner in the dining hall began to panic. Some threw down their half-eaten meat pies and chicken sautés and rushed outside to check the situation. The explosion was that close.

──Those twins, they've got good skills.

Even Balthazar had to acknowledge their abilities. He had been quite worried about whether they were the right people to entrust with such an important mission, but since Illia and Leo had vouched for them, he had left it to them, and as a result, they crashed the bomber into the exact location at the exact time.

As the commotion spread in the dining hall, an announcement began to play over the station’s intercom.

“An aircraft crash has occurred in Block L14, at the planned settler residential area. There is a possibility of an attack by enemy aircraft. All personnel from the security and public safety departments, please gather in the conference room. Traffic personnel, please immediately proceed to manage the surrounding traffic. I repeat, an aircraft crash has occurred in Block L14, possibly due to an enemy attack...”

After hearing the announcement, the military police officers hurriedly shovelled down their dinners and left the dining hall with annoyed expressions. Since the accident had occurred right under the station's nose, the previously quiet station suddenly became chaotic, filled with the sound of hurried footsteps and shouts confirming departmental roles.

After confirming that all the personnel had left the dining hall, Balthazar, who had been serving beef stew, tossed the unfamiliar ladle onto the tray. Reiner, who had been serving meat pies, looked over with a smirk.

“How was it, Baltha? Your first time serving stew to someone?”

“Stop the useless chatter. Let’s wait until the place clears out a bit. Serve the meals and mix in the stuff. Deliver it to the staff downstairs.”

“Roger that. Now comes the real fun.”

Reiner divided up the food from the large plate and poured in the prepared muscle relaxant and sleeping pills into the stew.

Five minutes later, the unnecessary personnel had left, and the station was quiet.

Still disguised with hats, wigs, and fake beards, Balthazar and Reiner, making sure to avoid being seen as much as possible, each carried a tray of food and left the dining hall.

The layout of the station was already memorized from their previous visit. They headed straight for the stairs leading to the detention cells, pretending to deliver food as they descended.

On the first basement floor, the entrance to the detention area was blocked by a grate, and two military police officers were on duty.

One of the military police officers, with his legs up on a simple desk and his back against a chair, looked up from the dirty magazine he had been reading. He had a slimy, reptilian face.

“What do you guys want? What’s a food delivery doing here?”

Reiner stepped forward and explained their purpose.

“The section chief told us to deliver your meal.”

“Huh? My meal’s not until six o’clock.”

“There was a bit of commotion, so the meal times have been delayed. Please have it while it’s still warm.”

They handed over the delicious-looking meals on the tray to the two dubious-looking military police officers. The one with the reptilian face looked displeased but, likely due to hunger, raised the grate and took the plates.

“Sorry about all the fuss. I’ll be back to collect the plates later. Take your time.”

Reiner, as usual, boldly lied with his carefree tone and quickly turned his back to the officers, heading back up the stairs.

“Won’t take five minutes.”

“Let’s wait seven minutes, just in case.”

“You’re so precise. Got it.”

The two returned to the dining hall, packed the leftovers into a blue case, loaded them onto a small truck, and waited for the drugs to take effect. In the city, the sound of sirens from fire trucks and emergency vehicles blared, and traffic jams were forming. It seemed a fire had broken out in an upscale residential area, and the military police had been dispatched to respond.

“Wonder if Lulu loaded a bomb on that thing?”

Reiner grinned as he watched the black smoke in the distance and made a joke. It probably wasn’t a bomb, but the fuel tanks must have been filled to the brim. The black smoke showed no signs of dying down, only intensifying.

“It’s time. Let’s go.”

“Got it.”

“Don’t die.”

“Wait, are you actually concerned about me?”

“I don’t have the manpower to carry back your dead body. If your identity gets exposed, they’ll come for me too. I need to avoid getting caught because of your screw-up.”

“Understood. I’ll do my best not to die, but what should I do if you’re the one who bites the dust?”

“Leave me. It’ll only bring trouble to you.”

“Roger that.”

Exchanging banter, the two returned from the parking lot to the station and once again descended the same stairs.

They could only hope the drugs had worked on both of the military police officers. If either of them hadn’t eaten, things could get troublesome.

Balthazar remained composed, but inside, he was overwhelmed with anxiety. If the military police officers hadn’t been completely incapacitated, it would greatly jeopardize the mission. Hijacking the food delivery truck and crashing the bomber were all for the purpose of incapacitating those two officers with the drugs. They had put enough time and effort into the plan, but the results...?

“Excuse meee. We’re here to collect the plates.”

Ignoring his anxiety, Reiner descended to the first basement floor with his usual carefree tone.

Then, satisfied, he put his hands on his hips.

“Piece of cake.”

Balthazar stepped out into the hallway and checked the state of the two military police officers. The one with the reptilian face had slumped to the floor, resting against the wall, fast asleep. The other officer was also asleep, slumped over the simple desk.

“Keys, keys...”

Reiner deftly took the keyrings from the belts of the two military police officers and tossed one to Balthazar.

“I’ll go get Kiyoaki. You handle Kagura.”

Balthazar caught the keyring and nodded. Splitting up here had been part of the plan from the start. It was Reiner’s suggestion, as it would save time.

But there was one thing bothering Balthazar.

The words Kiyoaki had said when he visited the cell the other day.

“Reiner was the one who knocked over the communication equipment.”

The moment he heard it, he knew it was about the night landing of the Eriadore airship. Just before landing, a strong crosswind hit, making a crash inevitable... Just when he had resigned himself to that, someone behind the cockpit knocked over the communication equipment, balancing the airship. Someone with such godlike skills had been in the rear of the airship at that time.

In the cockpit were Kiyoaki and Illia. Mio had been immobilized by injury. The suspects were Balthazar, Kagura, Cecil, and Reiner. Balthazar excluded himself. Cecil was highly likely to be a key figure of the Sylvanian royal family, which left either Kagura or Reiner as the one hiding superhuman abilities.

──Your actions are sometimes unnatural, Reiner Beck.

Even today, during this entire infiltration operation, he maintained his carefree attitude, yet his skill with a knife when hijacking the small truck, as well as his effortless procurement of muscle relaxants and sleeping pills, was suspiciously efficient. He acts like an idiot, but no idiot could infiltrate the elite Voltec Air Corps. What if this man had shown just enough of the necessary skills to infiltrate the most elite division of the St Vault Air Force as a spy...?

Balthazar called out to Reiner, who was heading towards Kiyoaki’s cell.

"If Sakagami is dead, bring his corpse."

Reiner's steps halted. For a brief moment, he froze, staring straight ahead. It looked like he was quickly contemplating something. Then, he turned toward Balthazar with his usual frivolous expression.

"What’s that supposed to mean? If he’s dead, shouldn’t we just leave him?"

As expected, he raised a question. Balthazar lied.

"It's part of the contract with Cecil. Even if they die in that cell, we must transport the bodies."

Reiner silently stared at Balthazar. In his eyes, Balthazar noticed a sinister gleam.

──This guy is hiding his true nature.

He sensed it intuitively. Something extraordinary was lurking beneath Reiner Beck's persona.

"That’s pointless."

"Whether it’s pointless or not doesn’t matter. It’s Cecil’s request."

"Why do you go so far to honour Cecil's wishes?"

"We don’t have time. I’ll explain later. Just remember, even if they’re dead, bring the body."

Balthazar cut the conversation short and stepped toward the stairs leading to the second basement to rescue Kagura. As he did, he felt the sharp gaze of Reiner on his back, almost murderous.

After watching Balthazar descend to the second basement, Reiner turned his gaze toward the darkness ahead and muttered his complaint.

"Baltha might be onto something, huh?"

The voice of the Hachidori in the back of his mind answered.

──The meaning of the request is unclear. What benefit is there in bringing back a corpse?

“Who knows?”

Hachidori thought for a while and then answered its own question.

──The request was probably a bluff. It’s meaningless.

──Balthazar threw out a meaningless demand to observe my reaction.

──That man might have noticed my presence.

“Should we change the plan?”

Hachidori fell silent again, considering the situation, before answering.

──It depends on Sakagami’s response. We’ll decide how to proceed based on that.

“Got it.”

Reiner slid forward, heading toward Kiyoaki’s cell.

If Kiyoaki had spilled Reiner’s true identity to the military police, Reiner would kill him on the spot and escape Odin. If he hadn’t talked, Reiner would get him out of the cell, kill him where no one was watching, and continue his life in Odin as before. That had been his plan from the start.

He soon arrived in front of Kiyoaki’s cell. Smirking, he called into the darkness inside.

“Well, well, well... It’s been a while, Kiyoaki. You still alive?”

The figure lying on the cold floor stirred.

A swollen face rose up.

"Reiner…?"

"Hey there. You’re looking even more handsome."

It seemed like Kiyoaki had been beaten up quite a bit. There were visible cuts on his cheeks and forehead. However, beneath the bruised skin, Kiyoaki couldn’t hide his relief.

"Reiner... You came for me!"

"Keep your voice down. Wait a sec."

Reiner fiddled with the keyring he had taken earlier, trying several keys in the lock. The third one was the right one, and the key turned in the lock.

A section of the iron bars swung open, and Reiner slipped into the cell, crouching down in front of Kiyoaki, who was lying on the floor.

His hands were cuffed behind his back, likely restrained after resisting. Though he looked exhausted, it seemed like he could stand.

"Reiner, thank you. Reiner..."

"Shut up. Stay quiet."

He silenced Kiyoaki while unlocking the handcuffs. With a short groan, Kiyoaki managed to push himself up into a sitting position on his own.

Reiner leaned in close and whispered.

"Now, Kiyoaki, I’ve got a serious question for you, and I need you to answer seriously."

He had to fulfill the real purpose for coming here today.

Depending on the answer, it could lead to something brutal.

"...? What?"

Kiyoaki tilted his head, confused.

Reiner steeled himself and asked.

"Did you say anything about me to the military police?"

"…About you?"

"Right before you were caught, you asked me a lot about my past, remember? Did you mention any of that stuff to the military police?"

Kiyoaki blinked a few times, looking directly at Reiner from up close. Then, as if understanding the meaning of the question, his expression became serious.

"...Of course not. That was my personal curiosity. I wouldn’t spread around questions that could harm you."

"……………………"

Kiyoaki's face grew even more solemn.

"I think of you as my best friend, no matter who you are."

He said that with an earnest tone.

"Now and forever."

Reiner received the answer, lowered his gaze, and then reached out with his right hand, grabbing Kiyoaki's chin.

Then, with his left hand, he placed it on the side of Kiyoaki's head.

If he applied enough pressure as if turning a steering wheel, Kiyoaki would die.

"I told you, don’t ever call me your best friend again."

"Reiner...?"

At the Air Hunt Officer Academy, Kiyoaki had told Reiner he considered him his best friend. Reiner had refused to shake the offered hand, instead putting Kiyoaki in a headlock and saying:

"Listen, never call me your best friend again, got it? If you say it again, I won’t let you off so easy next time."

Kiyoaki had screamed and promised never to call him that again.

Yet, despite that promise, Kiyoaki had broken it easily, calling him his best friend again.

Even though he likely suspected Reiner’s true identity, he still called him that.

How much of an idiot are you?

You’re the biggest fool ever. Knowing you has messed me up in ways I can’t even explain.

"Reiner...?"

With his chin and the side of his head still held, Kiyoaki looked at Reiner curiously.

"You piss me off. Seriously... You piss me off so much I don’t even get it."

If I had never met you, I could have just stayed a spy. I could have kept betraying and deceiving people, stepping all over them, and confidently turning my back on them while whistling away.

But because you act like a friend, everything’s gotten confusing.

I really don’t understand what I’m even thinking anymore.

Suppressing the emotions welling up from deep inside, Reiner let go of Kiyoaki and, this time, supported him by the shoulders to help him stand.

"...We’re escaping. Baltha is off rescuing Kagura."

"Y-Yeah."

"Illia is waiting outside."

Summoning strength in his shaky legs, Kiyoaki managed to stand up, though his movements were as unsteady as a newborn fawn. Reiner wrapped his left arm around Kiyoaki's side, supporting his body as they exited the cell.

"Hopefully, Baltha pulls it off."

"Yeah."

Kiyoaki, supported by Reiner, forced his weakened legs to climb the stairs.

Balthazar descended to the second basement, his eyes scanning the dark corridor where Kagura’s cell was located.

He moved forward with faltering steps, fully aware of the urgency he felt. His pace quickened, not because he was worried about Kagura, he told himself, but because the plan was on a tight schedule. He mentally repeated this excuse, even as his breathing became laboured while rushing down the hallway.

He soon reached the cell. It was too dark to see inside.

“It’s me, Kagura. Are you safe?”

He called out softly.

There was no response.

His heart started pounding rapidly.

──No, it can’t be.

──Not Kagura, of all people.

“Hey! This is no time to joke around. Wake up. We’re getting out of here.”

He raised his voice slightly, but still, there was no response. Squinting into the darkness, he couldn’t make out anything inside the cell.

“Damn it!”

Cursing under his breath, he fumbled through the keyring, trying each key in the lock. None of them worked. His anxiety grew.

“Which one is it? Damn it, is it the wrong key!?”

He tried all the keys, but none opened the door.

──This can’t be. I’ve made it this far. Kagura is right here.

──No, calm down. Don’t panic. Steady your hands.

He realized that his hands were trembling. Taking a deep breath in and exhaling slowly, he started over, trying the keys again from the beginning.

On the fourth try, the lock clicked open.

“Kagura!”

He shouted her name, flinging the door open and rushing inside the cell.

“Where are you? I can’t see you!”

His voice, bordering on a scream, filled the small space. From the back of the cell, a shadow slowly stirred and sat up.

“...Baltha...?”

The voice was faint, but it was unmistakably Kagura’s. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could see her better. Kagura, still in her military uniform, had apparently been sleeping on the floor.

Relieved, he slid over to her side.

"Are you okay, Kagura? Are you restrained?"

"N-No..."

"We need to leave immediately. Can you stand?"

"Y-Yeah..."

"I’ll help you. Get up. I’ve arranged a ship to get you out of Odin."

Not giving her time to ask questions, Balthazar lifted her right arm and placed it over his shoulder, while supporting her left side with his left hand, helping her to stand. Fortunately, she wasn’t bound, and her limbs were free.

He guided Kagura out of the cell, then, under the dim corridor lights, placed his hand under her chin to lift her face.

Kagura resisted, tensing her neck and looking down.

Balthazar, almost forcefully, grabbed her cheek and made her look up.

In the faint light, her tear-streaked face was revealed.

There was a bruise above her left eye, but it wasn’t severe enough to change her facial structure.

"You look the same as always. There’s nothing to be ashamed of."

"……………………"

"Never look down again in front of me. Keep your head up."

The indignation that had built up in his chest transformed naturally into those words.

"...Yeah..."

Kagura mumbled, rolling the words around in her mouth before whispering.

"...You came... for me..."

It seemed she had finally grasped the situation.

"D-Don’t get the wrong idea. Cecil asked me to. It’s not for your sake."

Snapping back to his senses, Balthazar hurried to explain.

"...I see. I see... You came to... rescue us..."

Balthazar noticed that Kagura’s voice was filled with tears.

"N-No! It’s because Cecil ordered it!"

"Yeah. Yeah. I know. I understand..."

Despite her words, Kagura pressed herself tightly against Balthazar, as if seeking comfort.

Her body warmth and current emotions were directly transmitted to Balthazar.

Kagura was so happy that she was crying. He understood that. And knowing that made Balthazar inexplicably happy, too.

──I’m so glad. I’m truly glad that Kagura is alive.

He couldn’t stop his heart from whispering those thoughts.

“We can cry later. For now, we need to escape. Can you walk?”

"Yeah. It might be a bit tough. Help me, Baltha."

Like a child clinging to a parent, Kagura earnestly asked for help.

"Hey, Kagura, are you alright? You’re acting like a different person."

Balthazar, bewildered, lifted Kagura onto his back. If she couldn’t walk, he had no choice but to carry her, or so he justified it to himself.

"Thank you. Sorry, Baltha."

Kagura, like a reassured child, wrapped her arms around Balthazar’s chest and clung tightly to him.

──She must have been terrified of being imprisoned.

The sense of relief and the soft, dependent voice that Kagura expressed from behind seeped deep into Balthazar's heart. Feeling the weakness in Kagura’s grip, Balthazar bent down once to adjust her position on his back.

──She’s so light. Is she really this small and fragile?

She always carried herself with such confidence that he had assumed she had a stronger build. While her weakened state could be partly due to her time in captivity, even then, she seemed unexpectedly delicate.

"Baltha... Baltha..."

Kagura repeatedly called his name.

"What is it? Are you in pain somewhere?"

"No, I'm fine. Baltha... Baltha..."

The grip of Kagura’s hands tightened as she clung to him.

"I asked you what you wanted."

Balthazar’s face turned red as he asked again. This was the first time someone had called his name so closely and repeatedly, and it made him feel strangely embarrassed.

"There’s no reason. Balthaaa... Balthaaa..."

She whispered sweetly into his ear. Unsure how to respond, Balthazar shouted back in frustration.

"This is no time for joking! The danger isn’t over yet!"

"I know. Sorry... Are you mad?"

"I-I'm not mad! Have I ever gotten mad at you?"

"No. Never."

Still clinging to him, Kagura pressed her cheek against Balthazar’s, rubbing gently.

"What is that? Is your cheek itchy?"

"No."

"Then why are you rubbing it?"

"I don't know... I just feel like doing it."

"You’re a strange woman. Do as you please."

As Kagura rubbed her cheek against him, Balthazar continued to climb the stairs, step by step. Although it seemed like a meaningless gesture, he didn’t want her to stop. He found it oddly comforting.

They reached the first basement floor. Reiner’s presence was already gone, as he must have gone ahead. In front of Balthazar, the two military police officers were still deeply asleep due to the drugs.

"Kagura, is there anyone you want revenge on?"

"Huh...?"

"The officer who gave you that bruise on your forehead, is he one of those two?"

Kagura lifted her head and looked at the officers sleeping in the hallway.

"Uh... the one sleeping in the hallway. The guy who looks like a lizard..."

"Wait here."

Balthazar gently lowered Kagura from his back. He then approached the officer, who was sleeping soundly against the wall with his legs stretched out, and kicked him hard in the crotch.

A short, pained grunt escaped from the officer, but the drug’s effects were so strong that he couldn’t wake up, let alone stand.

Unable to control his anger, Balthazar kicked him repeatedly. The image of Kagura, her arm in a sling and head bowed, replayed in his mind. Fuelled by rage, he kept kicking until he felt the man’s most sensitive area break under his foot, and only then did he stop. Breathing heavily, he reported back.

"He won’t be able to use it ever again. Are you satisfied?"

Kagura, leaning against the wall, had watched the entire scene. The officer foamed at the mouth, showing no signs of moving.

"Was that... really necessary...?"

"Wasn’t it?"

"...He hit me, but... to take away his manhood..."

"If he hit a woman’s face, then this is the least punishment he deserves. Let’s get moving."

"Y-Yeah..."

Balthazar once again hoisted Kagura onto his back and began climbing the stairs.

As she swayed gently on his strong back, Kagura quietly expressed her gratitude.

"Thank you, Baltha. Thank you."

"I-I didn't do it for you. It was because Cecil..."

"Yeah, yeah. I understand. I understand, Balthaaa..."

Kagura pressed her cheek against Balthazar’s once again, and in doing so, they both reaffirmed each other’s presence. Their faint breaths synchronized, and the rhythm of their hearts beat in unison, transcending the barriers of their physical bodies to communicate the voices of their souls.

Balthazar had never in his life felt anything resembling happiness. He had always seen life as a barren wilderness where he walked alone, armed only with his own skills. There was no room for joy, nor did he think he needed it.

Yet now, there was no doubt that what filled his heart was happiness. He could feel an affection welling up from the depths of his soul, spreading throughout his entire body. Just as a silk cloth dyed red could never return to its original colour, he knew that both his body and soul would be forever marked by this affection.

But this was no time for peace. Danger still lay ahead of them.

"Stop it. We’re almost outside. Someone might see us..."

Blushing deeply, Balthazar climbed the final steps, peeking around the corner to check the lobby for any people. Thanks to the chaos caused by the crash, the staff had all left, and the area was deserted.

"We’re going. Illia is waiting for us outside..."

He had never prayed to any gods before, but for the first time, Balthazar prayed. If there was a god, he didn’t care if none of his other wishes were granted for the rest of his life—just this one, let them escape unnoticed.

"Let’s go!"

With determination, he stepped forward. Seven meters to the exit. Clenching his teeth, he sprinted with all his might, Kagura on his back, across the lobby.

"We’re out!"

Bursting through the building’s doors and into the sunlight, he shouted in triumph.

"So bright...!"

Kagura’s voice was a mix of joy and surprise, as if she hadn’t seen the sun in ages. Having spent so much time in the darkness of her cell, the intense summer sunlight was overwhelming for her.

“Baltha, hurry!!”

Illia, who had stopped a limousine at the entrance of the police station, shouted from the driver’s seat. Balthazar bolted toward the car like a rabbit escaping danger.

In the passenger seat was Reiner. In the back seat, Kiyoaki sat with his eyes closed, looking utterly exhausted. Balthazar opened the door and hurriedly pushed Kagura into the back seat.

“Kagura…!?”

Kiyoaki, still with his eyes closed, turned his face towards the voice and shouted. He too seemed unable to see. Balthazar slid in next to Kagura on the left and yelled towards the driver’s seat.

“Hurry, get us out of here!!”

“Yes, sir!!”

Illia shifted gears, and the car began to move. Kiyoaki and Kagura forced their eyelids open, managing to vaguely see each other, and intertwined their fingers.

“Kiyoaki, are you alright, Kiyoaki…!?”

“I’m fine, Kagura. I’m so glad, Kagura…!!”

Their voices were filled with tears as they expressed their joy at each other’s safety. Balthazar quickly glanced back, confirmed that no one was pursuing them, and then spoke to the two.

“Don’t force your eyes open. Let them adjust to the light slowly.”

“Yeah.”

“You’re safe now. A submarine is waiting directly below Odin. You two will descend using parachutes, set off a flare on the sea surface, and the submarine will pick you up. After that, you’ll be able to return to the Akitsu Federation.”

As Balthazar spoke those words, a sharp pain pierced his chest.

──What is this? It hurts.

It felt like a drill was boring into the centre of his chest, leaving a raw, intense ache.

With her eyes still closed, Kagura turned her face towards Balthazar.

“Do we have to run away?”

“Of course.”

Balthazar responded, trying his best to hide the loneliness that threatened to creep into his voice, maintaining an indifferent tone.

Tears began to stream from Kagura’s still-closed eyes.

“I don’t want to leave.”

Without any hesitation, Kagura clung to Balthazar, disregarding the presence of others.

“W-What are you saying? If you stay on this island, you’ll be caught again.”

Blushing, Balthazar awkwardly tried to reason with her.

“I want to stay with everyone.”

Kagura clung to him even tighter, not bothering to hide her tears, and spoke from the depths of her heart.

“Hey, Kagura, you’ve been acting strange for a while now. Calm down. You can’t stay in this country anymore. The people of this country are your enemies now.”

Balthazar spoke firmly, as if trying to suppress his own feelings. But Kagura shook her head.

“People aren’t the enemy. Even if the nations are at war, people aren’t enemies.”

The once composed and dignified expression Kagura always wore had completely crumbled.

“They’re such kind people. They’re such good friends. Why do we have to say goodbye? This doesn’t make sense. This is madness.”

Through her tears, Kagura cried out. The car fell silent. Even Reiner, who would usually make a joke in such a moment, remained quiet.

No one could answer Kagura’s question.

She just wanted to stay with her cherished companions. But the reality of nations and times would not allow even that small wish.

Everyone in the car knew that the times were indeed insane. And they also knew that no matter how much an individual might wish otherwise, there was no changing it. They were powerless, tossed about by fate, left with nothing but futile laments.

As the car sped through the city, the streets gave way to open plains. Illia spoke up, announcing their destination.

“Captain Leo is waiting at the very edge of Odin. He’s already thrown down the flare for the submarine to spot. Once you jump from there, they’ll pick you up right away.”

Kiyoaki, surprised, asked, “Captain Leo is helping us too…?”

“Yeah, it was Captain Leo who arranged for Lulu and Lala to be assigned to the afternoon patrol. He said he wanted to save his comrades…”

Deep gratitude welled up in both Kiyoaki and Kagura. Despite the fact that, in Leo’s position, they were now enemy pilots, he had taken on such a dangerous mission that could jeopardize his own career.

“I don’t even know how to begin repaying him…”

That was all Kiyoaki could say. The sense of chivalry from Leo, a soldier of the St Vault military, struck deeply into both Kiyoaki and Kagura.

“The best way to repay him is to escape safely. If you make it out alive, we’ll meet again after the war ends…”

Ilia’s words offered a small but much-needed comfort. Kiyoaki nodded.

“…Yeah. We’ll meet again. If we survive, we’ll definitely meet again.”

Salvation lay in that hope alone.

No matter what happens, surviving is the most important thing.

No matter how harsh fate may be, they must never give in, and they must keep living.

Beyond all of this, surely, a happy tomorrow awaits.

That was the only thing they could believe in.

"Step on it, Illia. They’ll figure out the prison break soon. If they set up checkpoints, we’re in trouble," Balthazar commanded, knowing that they couldn’t relax until Kiyoaki and Kagura were safely off the island.

"Got it."

Illia shifted the gear into top speed, and the limousine kicked up dust as it sped away. In the distance, the faint sound of police sirens echoed, confirming Balthazar’s suspicion—the breakout had been discovered. If they didn’t get Kiyoaki and Kagura parachuted off the island soon, all their efforts would go to waste.

The acceleration pressed down on all five passengers.

Each person fell silent, lost in their own thoughts.

The time they had left together was quickly running out.

Their farewell was drawing near.

"There it is. That’s the drop point," Illia pointed ahead. At the farthest edge of Odin stood the ruined fortification of a gun battery. Once installed by Urano, it had been decimated during the Battle of Sierra Greed by the St Vault Navy and Air Force, and now it stood like a concrete graveyard. The three massive 46cm gun turrets were broken and twisted, left overgrown by vines, as the clean-up had been delayed indefinitely.

"Hurry."

Illia stopped the car, and all five of them got out. Illia and Balthazar helped Kiyoaki and Kagura, who were still struggling to fully open their eyes, to their feet.

"There are two parachutes in the trunk, along with Kagura’s sword."

"You brought my sword? Thank you…"

Reiner opened the trunk, rummaged around for a moment, and then pulled out two parachutes.

"This one’s for Kiyoaki, and this one’s for Kagura. Took a lot of effort to get these, you know," he joked, handing the parachutes to them. Kiyoaki squinted his eyes open just enough to inspect what he had received, then let it dangle from his right hand.

Suddenly, from behind one of the gun turrets, Leo and several members of the Voltec Air Corps emerged.

"Right on schedule, Sakagami, Kagura. Glad to see you’re both safe."

At the sound of Leo’s voice, Kiyoaki and Kagura reacted immediately.

"Captain! Thank you so much. I don’t know how to repay you…"

"I can never express my gratitude. This debt will last a lifetime…"

Leo approached them, placing a hand on each of their shoulders as he spoke.

"Even St Vault soldiers have their pride. What this country has done to you was wrong. Forgive us."

"N-No…"

Leo shook his head and continued.

"Flee from this country. Use the skills you’ve honed for the sake of your homeland. That’s the path of a soldier. Your role now is to survive and fight for your nation. I hope that you live and fight for your country as I will for mine."

"Captain…"

Both Kiyoaki and Kagura stood up straight and accepted Leo’s words.

Leo, as if he were running out of time, delivered his final orders as their superior officer.

"Listen, if we ever meet on the battlefield, fight with honour. Don’t hold back. That’s how we show respect for one another. Bushido and chivalry—the highest praise for each other’s values. I won’t hold back. I will give my all to shoot you down. You must swear to do the same—fight with everything you have to bring us down."

Kiyoaki couldn’t hold back his tears. He was overwhelmed by the realization that, in this St Vault nation, he had been blessed with such a remarkable superior officer. What Leo was saying might not be understood by ordinary people, but to a soldier, it was the highest form of honour.

A soldier fights for the future of their country. Their role is to protect their grandparents, parents, friends, lovers, children, and grandchildren. When soldiers from different nations meet on the battlefield, even if they are friends, they must give their all in the fight. That is the duty of a soldier.

Determined to convey his respect and gratitude to Leo, Kiyoaki straightened his back and responded.

"Yes, I will fight. I will fight with everything I have against the Voltec Air Corps."

He swore through sobs. Kagura also stood tall, summoning her strength to speak.

"I will fight with honour. For the name of the samurai, I will fight proudly against the noble knights of St Vault. I will face them head-on, without running away."

Their gratitude to Leo could only be conveyed through that vow. Leo nodded several times before patting both of their shoulders and bidding them farewell.

"Take care out there. Don’t go dying in some pointless way. When the war is over, and if we’re still alive, let’s get together and raise some hell again."

"Yes. Thank you. Thank you so much…!"

As Kiyoaki sobbed, Balthazar urged them from behind.

"Hurry, we don’t have much time…"

Kiyoaki and Kagura exchanged parting words and hugs with McGuire and Leon, who had accompanied Leo, before moving to the edge of the gun turret.

Holding the parachute in one hand, Kiyoaki opened his eyes. Since getting out of the car, his vision had adjusted to the light, and he could now see the landscape.

Standing at the edge, he leaned forward slightly and looked down. Far below the concrete platform, the silver sea was calm and still. The setting sun cast a broad reflection across the surface of the water.

He felt the summer breeze brush past him.

The smell of the wind told him that another precious season was coming to an end.

When he looked back, Illia was standing right behind him.

She wore a black outer camisole, boldly revealing her skin, with her bright red hair swaying in the summer breeze. In her deep green eyes, there was a gleam of sorrow for their parting.

The heartache split Kiyoaki’s chest wide open.

It was the same soft yet piercing pain he had felt when he parted ways with Mio at the Cross Cape.

Two years had passed since the harrowing escape through enemy lines in the Eriadore airship. During that time, Illia had grown to be an irreplaceable part of Kiyoaki’s life. She had always been by his side, a constant presence.

Now, it was possible he would never see her again.

Or worse, they might meet again on the battlefield and be forced to kill each other.

"Illia."

He called her name. They both moved toward each other without thinking.

He had no idea how to express what he was feeling in words.

The emotions he held for Ilia—were they the same as what he felt for Mio? Could they coexist, or did he need to choose between them? He had no answer.

All Kiyoaki could do was turn his feelings into actions.

He was about to experience another painful farewell. So, he wanted to honestly share his heart with the person standing before him, still alive.

"I have a request, Sakagami."

Illia, as she embraced Kiyoaki, wrapped her thin arms around his back and whispered into his ear.

"Yeah. Anything. Just tell me."

"I want you to swear the same promise you made with Captain Leo, but this time with me."

Illia quietly made her request.

Kiyoaki closed his eyes and pulled Ilia’s head closer to him, pressing her against his chest. Her warmth, softness, and the steady rhythm of her heartbeat were overwhelming.

"I can’t."

How could he promise to meet this precious person on the battlefield and fight to kill her?

"Swear it to me."

Ilia’s breath was hot against his chest as she whispered.

"I can’t fight you."

Kiyoaki’s legs trembled.

"Why not? Is it because I’m a woman?"

"No, that’s not it. But I can’t shoot you."

"Do you not see me as a soldier? Do you not acknowledge me as an airman? Am I not worthy of being your opponent?"

"It’s not that. I respect you. I believe you’ll be the best pilot in the world someday."

Illia lifted her face and looked at him with the resolute expression of an airman.

"If you truly believe that, then fight me for real."

"Why?"

"...Because I also believe that you will one day become the king of the skies."

"……………………"

"And one day, we will meet in the sky. I know it. I have to defeat you. That’s my destiny."

Kiyoaki realized that Illia was serious. This was something she had planned to ask him during their farewell.

From a young age, Illia had been raised by her father, Karsten, to become the "king of the skies." Most of her life had been dedicated to that purpose. Even after joining the Voltec Air Corps, she had relentlessly trained and refined her aerial combat skills.

Kiyoaki could feel Illia’s deep emotions toward her father, who had been defeated by Kiyoaki’s father, Masaharu, losing an arm in the process and falling into alcoholism. No matter how poorly she was treated, Illia could never abandon her father. She fought tirelessly with the dream of becoming the king of the skies and making her father proud.

──And if I’m the one who stands in the way of her dream...

──What am I supposed to do?

The distant sound of police sirens echoed in the background.

There was no more time to hesitate.

Kiyoaki didn’t want to leave Illia with unresolved feelings.

At the very least, he wanted to be completely honest with this important person.

He didn’t know what kind of future awaited them, but if this was what Illia wanted...

Then he would make another promise.

Still holding Illia close, Kiyoaki swore:

"If we meet on the battlefield, I’ll fight you with everything I have."

It felt like blood was dripping from his heart as he spoke those words. Only after saying them did he truly feel the weight of the vow.

Ilia smiled, tears brimming in her eyes.

"I’ll give you a sign. I’ll have a white wolf painted on my nose art. It’s something my father gave me. You should put a black rabbit on yours. That way, I’ll know it’s you."

"Alright. You’ll have a white wolf, and I’ll have a black rabbit. I promise, I’ll paint it on my plane."

"I respect you, Sakagami. To become the king of the skies, I know I must defeat you. One day, I will shoot you down."

Illia smiled as brightly as she could, despite the tears in her eyes, as she said those words.

Kiyoaki’s heart ached with affection. She was so precious to him, yet here they were, making such a painful promise. Why did it have to be this way? Why did they have to agree to something so tragic?

"I hope we never meet. If possible."

"Does that mean you don’t want to see me again?"

"When the war is over, I’ll come find you. No matter where you are, I’ll come see you."

Illia smiled faintly and tightened her grip on Kiyoaki’s back.

As he felt Illia’s warmth and tried to hold onto the moment, Kiyoaki became aware of another gaze directed at them—a gaze filled with intense and unsettling emotions.

──Reiner.

Kiyoaki shifted his eyes toward him and made up his mind.

──I’m grateful for what you did to help us. But...

──I can’t let you continue betraying your comrades.

──I’ll settle this with you.

Kiyoaki slowly let go of Illia and turned a serious gaze toward his friend.

Standing at the edge of the gun turret, Kagura forced her eyes open and confirmed the ocean 2,000 meters below. Then, she turned around.

Her saviour stood awkwardly, his face bright red, with both hands stuffed in his pockets.

"Hurry up and go. I—I don’t care what happens to you two…"

Time was running out.

Kagura, letting her emotions take over, ran towards Balthazar.

“You only did this because Cecil asked you…,” she began, but silenced his all-too-familiar excuse with a kiss.

Balthazar stood there, hands still shoved in his pockets, frozen in place.

"Do you think we’ll meet again?" Kagura asked, pulling back and looking up at him.

Balthazar’s face turned bright red like molten lava, but he didn’t respond.

"This isn’t goodbye forever, right?" she pressed.

Still, Balthazar remained motionless, steam practically rising from his head, his arms straight at his sides, unable to move.

Kagura smiled. This man, who was so remarkably competent, who pretended to be cold and indifferent, was kind, brave, and noble—but so clumsy that he couldn’t even put his true feelings into words. She found him irresistibly lovable and endearing.

“We’ll meet again, Baltha. I promise, I’ll repay this debt tenfold.”

Balthazar finally looked down at her.

“I-I didn’t do it to save you.”

Kagura gave him the brightest smile she could muster. If this truly was their final goodbye, she wanted to leave Balthazar with the best memory of her.

“I love you, Baltha,” she said, without any hesitation.

Then, she hugged him tightly, rubbing her cheek against his chest, savouring the warmth one last time.

“We’ll meet again. We will. And when we do, we’ll both be stronger, powerful enough to change the world.”

“O-Okay.”

“Stay safe. Don’t die. We’re going to meet again, after all.”

“O-Okay.”

Kagura wiped away her tears, looked at Balthazar’s flustered face with a smile, and then turned toward Kiyoaki.

It was time to go.

She had to leave behind everything and return to her beloved homeland.

At that moment, Kiyoaki did something unexpected. He threw his parachute toward Reiner.

“…Huh?”

Reiner caught it, his face filled with surprise. Kagura noticed the dangerous gleam in Reiner’s eyes.

──This is bad.

She didn’t understand the situation, but her instincts screamed at her.

Without thinking, Kagura’s hand moved to the hilt of the sword at her waist.

As Kiyoaki and Illia, and Kagura and Balthazar shared their farewells, Reiner continued to quietly converse with the Hachidori in his mind.

──The sabotage isn’t enough.

"I’m telling you, it’s fine. Once he jumps with that parachute, the belt will definitely snap."

──The cut isn’t deep enough. There aren’t enough weak points. If you want to ensure the kill, it needs to be deeper and in more places.

"If I did that, it’d be too obvious! Trust me, when he jumps, he’ll definitely die!"

Earlier, Reiner had secretly made a cut in the strap that connected Kiyoaki’s parachute to his body. If Kiyoaki jumped without knowing, the shoulder belt would surely tear mid-air, sending him plummeting to his death.

──I don’t believe it’s certain.

──If he notices the damage mid-flight, he could adjust his weight on his right shoulder and manage the descent.

"You’re worrying too much. I’m telling you, it’ll work perfectly…right?"

In the middle of his sentence, Reiner noticed Kiyoaki was looking directly at him.

Maybe he was about to say his final goodbye? Reiner met his gaze.

Then, to his shock, Kiyoaki tossed the parachute right at him.

“What?”

Reiner instinctively caught it and stared at Kiyoaki in confusion.

“Thank you for everything, Reiner. I still think of you as my best friend,” Kiyoaki said, his expression serious.

“And I always will. So, whatever happens next, please understand—it’s all for your sake.”

Reiner couldn’t decipher Kiyoaki’s intent.

Leo, his two subordinates, Kagura, and Balthazar all turned their attention toward Kiyoaki, puzzled by his actions.

Reiner tilted his head, puzzled, and asked, "What do you mean?"

Kiyoaki smirked mischievously, an expression Reiner had rarely seen—a smile that made him look like a cheeky troublemaker.

──Black Rabbit.

The nickname briefly flashed through Reiner’s mind.

Suddenly—

Kiyoaki turned to face everyone else, his voice clear and commanding.

“I need to tell you all something important.”

Then, Kiyoaki pointed at Reiner and declared:

"Reiner is a spy for Urano."

Everyone froze in shock at his words.

"The sabotage on Air Hunt Island wasn’t Mio’s doing—it was him. During the previous sea battle, he was leaking Voltec Air Corps information to Urano. We need to detain him immediately."

Kiyoaki spoke confidently, his tone leaving no room for doubt. Leo, perplexed, looked back and forth between Reiner and Kiyoaki, trying to make sense of the situation.

“H-Hey, what are you suddenly saying...?” Reiner stammered, attempting to defend himself, but Balthazar cut him off.

“We need to investigate him. There have been far too many suspicious events surrounding him.”

Balthazar’s mind flashed back to the words Kiyoaki had spoken during their imprisonment.

"Reiner was the one who knocked over the communication equipment."

Ever since then, Balthazar had kept a close eye on Reiner, and the more he looked into it, the more he couldn’t shake his suspicions about Reiner’s true identity.

“W-Wait a minute! You can’t just accuse me of being a spy out of nowhere! What proof do you have?” Reiner protested.

“We have no physical evidence, but there are countless questions that demand answers. You’ll be coming with us for a long and thorough interrogation, Reiner Beck,” Balthazar said sternly.

During their infiltration of the police station, Balthazar had thrown a bluff at Reiner to gauge his reaction. He had sensed something deeply unsettling lurking beneath Reiner’s usual flippant demeanour—something sinister and dangerous that couldn’t be ignored any longer.

"Hmm, if you both insist, then we’ll have to investigate," Leo said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin as he gazed at Reiner.

Reiner took a step back.

Then, he glanced toward the edge of the gun turret, down to the sea below, and strapped on the parachute Kiyoaki had thrown him.

At last, Reiner understood why Kiyoaki had tossed him the parachute. It was an act of mercy—Kiyoaki had knowingly given him the damaged parachute as a parting gesture to his so-called friend.

“Hey, Kiyoaki,” Reiner suddenly called out, a grin creeping across his face.

“Move.”

A strange, malevolent light flickered in Reiner’s eyes.

Without warning, something glinted in Reiner’s right hand.

It was a dagger, hidden in his pants pocket.

Dust kicked up around Reiner’s heels as he lunged forward.

“!?”

Kiyoaki couldn’t react in time.

The three meters between them vanished in an instant, as Reiner moved with inhuman speed—a devilish action beyond normal human capability.

“Die.”

With the dagger aimed at Kiyoaki’s heart, Reiner muttered those words.

There was no way to dodge.

──I’m going to die.

That thought flashed through Kiyoaki’s mind.

But in the very next moment—a shadow stepped between them.

“Huh?”

A dull sound echoed as the blade sank into flesh.

Blood sprayed out.

Kiyoaki’s eyes widened in horror.

In front of him was an elegant, familiar back.

That back had taken the blow, shielding him from Reiner’s knife.

"Kagura!!"

Kiyoaki shouted her name.

“Nngh…!”

Reiner growled and slashed horizontally with his knife once more.

Blood sprayed through the summer air again.

“Guh…”

Kagura let out a pained groan.

The blood scattering was hers.

For a brief moment, an image flashed in Kiyoaki’s mind—the image of his sister, Yumiko, who had died protecting him from gunfire.

──Am I going to be saved by another important person’s life again?

──Am I going to survive once more by using the life of someone I care about as a shield?

There was a sharp metallic clang, followed by sparks flying in the summer sky.

Reiner clicked his tongue and leaped backward.

He gripped his dagger more firmly, bracing himself for another attack.

"Are you alright, Kiyoaki?"

Kagura turned to face Kiyoaki.

Blood dripped from the sword she held, and she was bleeding from two places—her right upper arm and her wrist.

“Kagura!!” Balthazar shouted.

Kagura lowered her sword diagonally, pointing it toward the ground.

Reiner’s predatory gaze locked onto her.

“I’ll kill you.”

He said it in a voice that Kiyoaki had never heard before—cold and filled with pure malice. With an inhuman burst of speed, Reiner lunged toward Kagura’s chest.

For a moment, Kagura stumbled. She had been imprisoned for so long that her body hadn’t fully regained its agility.

Reiner’s dagger cut through the air, aimed straight at Kagura’s throat.

Kagura barely managed to dodge, twisting her body away at the last moment, and countered with an upward slash from her sword.

Like a panther, Reiner sidestepped to the left, dodging the blow, and switched his dagger to his left hand.

His right calf tensed, gathering an extraordinary amount of strength, preparing to strike the ground with immense force.

“Kagura, watch out!!” Kiyoaki yelled, just as a cloud of dust kicked up around them.

In a straight line, like a bullet, Reiner leaped toward Kagura, thrusting his knife toward her heart.

Kagura brought her sword down with a powerful strike.

The flat of her blade knocked Reiner’s dagger away.

“Damn it.”

Reiner spun his body, creating distance between them with a quick retreat, his eyes glowing with the fierce intensity of a wild animal, locked onto Kagura’s sword.

Kagura tightened her expression, standing tall and resolute. She lifted her sword, pointing its tip directly at Reiner.

“I’ve seen through you.”

The dignified presence of a samurai radiated from Kagura.

“What did you say?”

Reiner’s face twisted with even more murderous intent, just as—

A gunshot echoed through the air.

Blood splattered from Reiner’s right shoulder, staining his military uniform.

“Gah…!?”

Balthazar, standing behind Reiner, had aimed his pistol at him. His voice was cold and commanding as he barked out a short order.

"Don't move," Balthazar commanded, the smoke still rising from his gun barrel.

Reiner glared at the barrel of the gun, and Leo, along with two of his subordinates, had already drawn their pistols, all aimed at Reiner. Kagura stood before him, her sword raised, her eyes locked on him.

The situation was clearly decided.

"Jump with your parachute, Reiner!!" Kiyoaki shouted impulsively.

He knew Reiner was now the enemy and had tried to kill him. But still, Reiner had been his best friend.

Reiner glanced at Kiyoaki.

For just a brief moment, he smiled.

──Goodbye, my friend.

──Don't die on me, okay?

That was the message Kiyoaki felt in his heart as Reiner smiled at him.

Reiner spoke:

"Kiyoaki, my nose art is the 'Hummingbird.'"

And with that, Reiner, parachute strapped on, leapt from the edge of the gun turret.

"He's escaping!" Leo's furious voice echoed. Everyone rushed to the edge, looking down.

At about 1,000 meters below, a white parachute bloomed in the air. But instead of a smooth descent, Reiner twisted awkwardly, his body jerking as he fell.

"What the hell... He really was a spy," Mcguire muttered, voicing the thoughts of everyone present. They all watched Reiner’s parachute drifting downward for a moment longer, but the sound of approaching police sirens reminded them of the urgency of the situation.

Kiyoaki walked over to Kagura, examining the blood coming from her arm. Fortunately, it didn’t seem like any arteries were hit.

"Thank you, Kagura. Are you okay...?"

"Somehow. But wow, I didn’t know Reiner was capable of such combat skills..."

"Kagura, you're amazing for blocking those attacks... It was incredible."

"It was all instinct. Plus, Balthazar helped me," Kagura smiled warmly at Balthazar, who awkwardly holstered his gun.

"It was just a precaution. I always carry it with me," Balthazar muttered.

"The debt keeps growing. I’ll repay it, I swear," Kagura replied.

"I don’t need it... Now go. If you get caught again, all of this will have been for nothing."

At Balthazar’s urging, Kiyoaki turned back to Kagura. There was only one parachute left, so they would have to jump together, their bodies strapped together.

"Kagura, I’m sorry, but we’ll need to go together."

"Yeah, I get it. Let’s stick close."

Illia carefully bandaged Kagura’s right arm as Kiyoaki strapped on the parachute. He fastened Kagura’s belt to his own with metal clasps.

"Do you want to face backward or forward?" Kagura teased mischievously.

Kiyoaki blushed and stammered, "Uh... for safety, let’s face forward. That way we can support each other with both hands..."

"Okay."

Kiyoaki took Kagura into his arms, preparing to embrace her for the jump.

"Make sure you’re both securely strapped. Don’t let go of each other," Leo instructed, passing a belt under their arms to ensure they were tightly bound together. Mcguire and Leon also tightened their belts, making sure Kiyoaki and Kagura were properly secured.

"That should do it."

"Kagura, hold on tight."

Kiyoaki wrapped his arms around Kagura, gripping her belt firmly.

He swore to himself that he wouldn’t let go.

He smiled at Balthazar and Illia. Kagura spoke once more.

"We will never forget our vow. No matter what happens, we will never hate each other. We trust each other, no matter what. We will never forget that."

Perhaps that vow had been made with this farewell in mind, anticipating this very day.

"We won’t forget. No matter what happens, we’ll uphold our vow," Illia replied.

Balthazar, who had been quietly watching, finally spoke.

"I have a feeling we’ll meet again someday. Until then, make sure you stay alive."

It was a rare, sentimental farewell from Balthazar.

Kiyoaki and Kagura wiped their tears, offering smiles to their friends.

They would never forget.

No matter how far apart they were.

Even if their countries became enemies.

Even if they met on the battlefield and shed each other’s blood.

They would never hate each other.

Their friendship would endure forever.

"Goodbye, until we meet again!!" Kiyoaki shouted, shaking off the lingering emotions.

"We’ll definitely meet again, and we’ll laugh together!!" Kagura shouted as well, and with that, the two of them leapt together from the edge of the gun turret.

Their friends, who had been waving, disappeared from view.

Kiyoaki’s entire vision was filled with the summer sky.

The wind roared in his ears as they plummeted downward, Kagura held tightly in his arms, headfirst into the brilliant blue sky.

Then, with a sharp pull, the white canopy of the parachute unfurled.

The force jerked their shoulders, but Kiyoaki held on tightly to Kagura, enduring the sudden deceleration.

The sound of the wind died down.

Slowly, gently, Kiyoaki and Kagura descended through the summer sky, still embracing each other.

"Kagura, are you alright?" Kiyoaki whispered into her ear as they floated down.

"Yeah, thanks to you, I’m still alive," Kagura replied in her usual nonchalant tone.

"We were completely saved," Kiyoaki remarked.

"Yeah. I'll repay you. Someday, for sure," Kagura replied softly.

"Yes, someday. Definitely."

Kiyoaki held Kagura close, his gaze drifting toward the ocean below. Far in the distance, Reiner's parachute appeared as a tiny speck, swaying unsteadily from side to side.

"Looks like he figured it out in time. He can manage the descent," Kiyoaki said with a sigh of relief. When Reiner had handed him the parachute, Kiyoaki had instinctively inspected it. Sure enough, the straps had been cut—just enough to make it seem like an accident that would kill him mid-descent. Reiner had planned to make Kiyoaki’s death look like a tragic mishap. Now, it was Reiner himself who had to use the damaged parachute. The fact that it was only damaged enough for Reiner to still survive suggested a sliver of conscience remained in him.

Kagura, still clinging tightly to Kiyoaki, murmured, "What do you think he'll do?"

"He’ll figure something out. He’s a skilled spy, after all."

"Is he really? I didn’t notice a thing."

"I think he showed his cards more to me. Maybe deep down, he felt guilty for betraying everyone. Perhaps he even wanted to be found out."

"Men are complicated. I still don’t understand them."

In the distance, the sun hung low near the horizon, slowly sinking into the feathery clouds.

The sky deepened into shades of red, signalling the end of another season. As they gently descended with the wind, Kiyoaki and Kagura reflected on the two years they had spent in St Vault.

There had been so much sadness and joy. They had met such wonderful companions. Kiyoaki had once believed that the seven who had flown together on the Eriadore would remain friends forever, laughing together through life.

But now…

"Everyone's scattered," Kagura said quietly.

"Yeah. Quite thoroughly," Kiyoaki agreed.

Looking back, it seemed as if the seven of them were destined to be torn apart from the moment they met. Balthazar, Illia, and Cecil remained in St Vault, while Kagura and Kiyoaki returned to the Akitsu Federation. Mio and Reiner, on the other hand, were with Urano. The seven who had once stood together as heroes of St Vault were now divided among three opposing nations.

Kiyoaki remembered something Kagura had said once before.

"Is this... destiny?"

"Yeah... I believe there's a reason we all met. Something big is waiting for us. Heaven brought us together for a purpose, and now we’re being separated to play our roles in that grand design. I can’t explain why, but I believe it."

Kagura’s words weren’t logical. They weren’t the kind of thing that could be proven scientifically. Yet Kiyoaki felt them resonate deeply within him.

"I feel the same... I think there’s a greater meaning behind us being divided among these three nations. I don’t have any proof, but it’s just a feeling."

"Even Balthazar said he felt like we’d meet again, didn’t he? No reason behind it, but he said it anyway. I’m sure we’ll meet again, someday, somewhere. To change the world."

As Kagura finished speaking, the two of them touched down on the surface of the ocean.

The white canopy of the parachute spread out on the water, and Kiyoaki and Kagura floated on top of it. Kiyoaki lit the signal flare they had been given, and a plume of deep violet smoke rose into the twilight sky.

"Kagura, is your arm alright?" Kiyoaki asked, concerned.

"Don’t ask. I’m holding back a scream," Kagura replied, her voice tinged with pain, though she managed a brave smile. Her injured arm was submerged in the salty seawater, and the pain must have been excruciating, yet she bore it with dignity.

Kiyoaki scanned the horizon, searching for any sign of the promised submarine. Balthazar had assured them that one would be there, but...

"There it is!" Kagura suddenly shouted in relief.

Kiyoaki followed her gaze and saw the periscope of a submarine cutting through the water, heading straight for them like a prairie dog poking its head out of the ocean.

They both waved their arms frantically.

"Hey! Over here!" Kiyoaki yelled.

A sleek, black submarine surfaced in front of them, parting the water like an orca. Water sprayed into the air as the submarine’s hull emerged. The hatch on the bridge opened, and Akitsu Federation soldiers waved to the two of them.

"We’re saved…!" Kiyoaki exclaimed, grinning as he and Kagura waved back and began swimming toward the submarine.

"We're going home. Back to where we belong," Kagura said, her voice filled with a mix of relief and anticipation.

"Yeah. We’re going home."

As they swam through the waves, the reality sank in. They were going back to their homeland—the place where they were born and raised. But they also knew that from this point on, they would be obligated to fight for their country.

Undoubtedly, more hardships awaited them in the future.

But no matter what…

──Even if we become enemies, we will not hate each other

──Friendship is eternal.

Kiyoaki repeated that vow in his heart over and over.

It was the only remaining hope for the seven of them, now scattered across enemy lands.

Part 14 (Part 7 of Volume 5)

Imperial Year 1349, July, Urano Royal Capital, Pleiades──

"Done! Deluxe cheeseburger!!" Mio, wearing an apron, proudly placed her culinary masterpiece on the plate in the kitchen of the Lamia Palace.

"Is that okay, Mio? You’re off duty today..." Nina Viento, also in an apron, asked apologetically beside her.

Mio waved her hand in front of her face with a sheepish smile.

"Even when I have time off, I don’t have much to do. I like cooking, and I figured I’d treat myself to something I really want to eat. Here, this one’s for you, Nina! I’ll even put a little flag on it!"

She placed another massive burger on the counter, sticking a flag decorated with the crest of Saint Aldista into the bun. The burger was a sight to behold—crispy brown buns, fresh lettuce, mayonnaise, cheese, and a thick patty dripping with juices. Mio’s special sauce overflowed from the bun onto the plate.

"It looks delicious…" Nina’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at the meal Mio had prepared. After removing her apron, Mio poured orange juice into a glass and smiled at Nina.

"The weather’s great today. Let’s eat on the rooftop!"

"Yes! Oh, I’ll carry mine…" Nina said, smiling as she picked up her tray with the burger, fries, and juice. Mio nodded, grabbing her own tray with both hands.

Side by side, they left the kitchen, crossed the courtyard, entered the tower where Nina’s room was located, and climbed the spiral staircase. As they ascended, they encountered a knight descending.

"Oh, Ignacio? What are you doing?" Mio called out. Ignacio, with his usual stern expression, responded curtly.

"Don’t take Nina without permission."

"Seriously? Do I need your permission to have lunch with Nina?"

"You don’t need permission, but inform me in advance. It’s unsettling otherwise."

"That's basically permission, but fine. We’re heading to the rooftop. Want some fries? I’ll give you some."

Mio playfully held up a fry above Ignacio’s head as if offering it to a dog.

"…I don’t need it. But the Urano fleet from Kai Andros is returning to Pleiades. It might be worth watching."

"Really? You should’ve told me earlier. I could have made something for you too. Oh well, let’s head to the roof before the food gets cold!"

The three of them entered Nina’s room at the top of the tower, then climbed the exterior stairs to reach the rooftop. The dome-shaped rooftop was designed for defence and observation. Mio placed her tray on a bench and stretched, taking in the view with a smile.

"What a great view and beautiful weather. This is my favorited spot in the entire palace."

"I feel the same. It’s so liberating," Nina agreed, nodding as she admired the majestic view of Pleiades.

From the Lamia Palace, perched on the mountainside of the Petra Range, they could see the vast expanse of the left bank of Pleiades. The vibrant green olive groves stretched out, and the streets of the Evangelis district shimmered in the sunlight.

"Let’s eat!"

"Yes, let’s."

The two sat down side by side on the dome-shaped structure and took big bites of their deluxe cheeseburgers.

"Mmm…! So delicious!!"

"It’s incredible…!"

The rich cheese, the juices from the meat, the crisp lettuce, and the special sauce-soaked bun all blended perfectly in their mouths. Both Mio and Nina couldn’t help but smile at the taste.

"Mio, you're really an amazing cook!" Nina said, genuinely impressed. Gone was her usual calm demeanour as she eagerly took another big bite.

Meanwhile, Ignacio stood alone by the stone railing, gazing out at the summer sky in the distance.

"Ignacio, have you eaten lunch yet?"

"I’ll eat later."

"Here, take some fries. You should eat."

Mio offered him a small plate of fries. Ignacio reluctantly took the plate, popping one fry into his mouth as he continued to watch the sky, barely interested.

"I was worried I wouldn’t be able to finish it, but I did…" Nina looked down at her empty plate in disbelief. Mio had also finished her meal.

"Food tastes even better when you eat in a place like this. It feels like a picnic!" Mio said, smiling brightly as she leaned back against the curve of the dome, looking up at the deep blue July sky. Fluffy white clouds lazily drifted by, and the sound of birds chirping among the trees on the mountainside was soothing.

It had been about two weeks since their pool outing and meal of Arimen.

Slowly, the distance between Mio and Nina had shrunk, and their conversations had become more frequent. Despite their differences in status, they were both girls of the same age, with similar sensibilities, and as time passed, their exchanges became more casual.

Mio genuinely liked Nina's personality.

She was quiet, but surprisingly strong-willed. It seemed that Nina carried a deep sense of duty within her, and though she made efforts to hide it, Mio could sense it. Over the past two weeks, Mio had come to realize that Nina wasn’t the apathetic, exhausted girl that others in the palace worried about.

Nina had her reasons for keeping a low profile. As someone known as the "heir of Urano," any significant move she made could provoke reactions from opposing factions. Nina’s decision to remain isolated in the palace and refrain from political involvement seemed to be part of a larger plan.

──It must be tough, carrying such a heavy burden…

──Yet she never complains, always thinking of others…

──She’s amazing. She’s my age, but she’s far more mature…

Mio’s respect for Nina grew with each passing day. At the same time, Mio couldn’t help but wonder what inner strength was holding Nina together.

"…They’re here."

Ignacio’s sudden statement interrupted Mio's thoughts as he continued munching on a fry.

"What's that? The Uranos fleet?"

"There."

Ignacio pointed towards the offshore horizon on the left bank with the tip of his potato wedge.

"Stop pointing with food, it's rude. Where, exactly...?"

Mio stood up and lined up next to Ignacio on his right, staring in the direction he indicated.

The midsection of the sky to the southwest was grey and hazy. If you looked closely, you could see dense, black shapes emerging like a school of fish across the summer sky.

"Are those planes...?"

"No, it's the air fleet."

Holding an empty plate in hand, Ignacio squinted his eyes and continued to observe. Nina stood up, walked to Ignacio's left side, and extended her own plate of fries.

"Ignacio, I couldn’t finish mine. Would you like some of mine...?"

"Sure."

Still focusing on the distance, Ignacio took the plate and resumed eating fries.

"He sure likes those," Mio muttered quietly, but it didn’t seem to reach Ignacio's ears as he kept gazing at the air fleet, continuing to munch on his fries.

"...It's coming this way. Feels just like a fleet review. The number of ships is massive..."

"Don't talk with your mouth full, that's bad manners."

Scolding him, Mio also looked in the same direction. What had appeared as a large formation of planes gradually sharpened into clearer outlines, revealing that they were indeed ship silhouettes.

A colossal number of vessels cruised through the summer sky, reminiscent of a school of sardines. Airships, requiring lift devices, took considerably more money, time, and materials to construct compared to seafaring vessels. In the St Vault Navy, an airship fleet typically consists of about 30 to 40 ships, but the Uranos fleet they were witnessing now looked to have nearly 300 ships assembled.

"What... that many? I've never seen anything like it."

"...The wars in other sea regions must have settled down. If the entire Kai-Andros fleet is returning to the capital, this is no trivial matter..."

Seemingly unable to stop eating fries, Ignacio furrowed his brow while speaking. His fries looked so appealing that Mio pinched one from his plate, while also keeping an eye on the impressive Uranos air fleet that was drawing closer.

"Eleven super dreadnoughts... sixteen air battleships... eighteen carriers... twenty-five escort carriers... twenty-seven heavy cruisers... I can't even count the number of light cruisers and smaller ships, but I estimate over two hundred in total."

Staring at the airship fleet, Ignacio accurately identified the types and number of ships. Mio tried to do the same, but keeping track of the moving vessels proved difficult. After attempting to count just the aircraft carriers, she realized that Ignacio's count was indeed accurate.

"This one fleet alone is larger than the entire navy of the Balesteros Republic. I can't even imagine how many more there are across the world. If you add in the twelve air fortresses, world domination wouldn't be out of reach..."

Mio nodded in agreement. Uranos' power was truly unfathomable. Even the St Vault Navy wouldn't stand a chance against them.

Eventually...

"It's completely a victory parade. It seems like they're also aiming to boost the morale of the people of Pleiades."

Ignacio, having finished his fries, looked up at the air fleet dominating the skies over Pleiades and spoke with a slightly raised voice.

"What is this... it's incredible!!"

Mio looked up at the zenith and couldn't help but shout.

The sky over Pleiades was blanketed by airships.

In the distant Evangelis District, a festival seemed to be in full swing, with fireworks being launched. The entire population of Pleiades was likely cheering towards the sky, celebrating the grand return of their mighty air fleet.

Gigantic warships, the likes of which Mio had never seen, sailed overhead one after another. They were much larger than the super dreadnought airships Riviere and Red Deer owned by the St Vault Empire. Their lift devices, apparently state-of-the-art, emitted an unfamiliar low, quiet hum, oppressing the ground beneath them.

The massive air fleet of over 300 ships formed six columns as they soared across the sky, endlessly passing over the three onlookers’ heads toward Evangelis District. The lead ships had already shrunk to tiny specks in the distance, but more ships of varying sizes kept flying by, with no end in sight. It was a majestic sight, impossible not to stir one’s soul.

"With something like this... no one could possibly win..."

Mio muttered without thinking. Just this one air fleet alone could destroy any advanced nation. Airships possess capabilities for air superiority, sea control, and ground attack, making them versatile combat vessels. If more than 300 of these advanced airships advanced together, nothing could stand in their way.

"The scale of this far exceeds anything we could imagine. A select few Uranos people, living in the sky, subjugated the nations of the earth, sucked their wealth dry, and built this fleet. I wonder how many nations on the ground have been exploited by Uranos..."

Ignacio's words made Mio nod once more. The wealth generated by Pleiades and the twelve air fortresses alone wouldn’t be enough to build a fleet like this. There must be puppet states, like the Hydrabard Allied Commonwealth or the Harmonia Empire, in other unseen continents, funnelling their wealth to Uranos to sustain this military force. The overwhelming presence of the Uranos air fleet demonstrated to the world who its true ruler was.

At that moment—

"Huh...?"

Nina let out a breath and touched the pendant she always wore around her neck, muttering softly.

"...Kal...?"

Was that someone's name? Mio had never heard it before, but Ignacio reacted immediately.

"...Is he contacting you...!?"

He asked Nina, unusually surprised.

"...Be quiet. Let me concentrate."

Nina, with a serious expression, grasped the pendant tightly with both hands and closed her eyes.

It was clear she was more tense than Mio had ever seen her before. Mio remained silent, watching Nina closely.

After holding the pendant for a while, Nina's hair gently lifted. A soft breeze swirled around her, forming a mysterious vortex.

With her eyes still closed, Nina nodded several times towards the pendant.

"Kal... the sky is so blue here, do you remember when we first met?"

It was as if she was seeing something that wasn't there, hearing words that couldn't be heard in the present moment. Her lips parted.

"Kal, do you remember our promise?"

Nina was speaking to the pendant, as if she were communicating with someone far away. Was it some foreign communication device? Or was this part of Nina’s magical powers?

Nina, still with her eyes closed, held the pendant tightly and nodded twice. She seemed to be listening to someone's voice through the pendant.

"Yes. Thank you. I'm so happy."

Tears glistened at the corners of Nina’s eyes.

It felt to Mio as if she was seeing Nina’s true smile for the first time. A radiant smile, full of joy.

"I’ve been waiting for you, always."

With tears welling up in her eyes, Nina whispered those words with a gentle smile.

—Could he be her lover?

Mio instinctively thought so.

Perhaps Nina had been waiting in this palace for someone named Kal to come and get her.

Nina’s hair, which had been floating, quietly settled, and the swirling wind around her gradually subsided.

For a while, Nina pressed the pendant to her forehead, murmuring what seemed like a prayer. Then she opened her eyes and looked at Ignacio.

"Kal is leading a fleet. He’s left Balesteros. He’s coming to Pleiades to take me back."

Ignacio quietly received the report, his gaze drifting toward the distant sky.

"That idiot... He's too late."

He cursed toward the distance, but for once, there was an unmistakable warmth hidden behind Ignacio's words.

Mio stood silently beside the two. She could sense that Nina and Ignacio were quietly rejoicing, so she refrained from asking unnecessary questions that might disrupt their moment. Though they weren't holding hands or jumping for joy, they were clearly basking in a deep sense of happiness.

—Nina’s lover and Ignacio’s close friend... Could that be this Kal person?

As Mio pondered this, she remained silent, careful not to interrupt their emotions, while gazing at the Uranos fleet overhead.

Eventually, Ignacio looked up at the sky and asked Nina softly.

"Leading a fleet... Does that mean he's preparing for battle?"

"He seemed prepared to do so if necessary. It’s an allied fleet from Balesteros, the Saeno Nation, and Benares. It's commanded by Admiral Luis, and they call it the Second Isla Fleet."

Ignacio nodded, his expression darkening as he glanced upward.

"Can that Isla Fleet... defeat this Uranos fleet?"

Nina tightened her lips and looked up at the sky.

Through the pendant, she had glimpsed the might of the Second Isla Fleet, and now she was comparing it with the overwhelming presence of the Uranos Air Fleet hovering over Pleiades.

"...In terms of size... they are evenly matched."

After a moment of contemplation, Nina responded.

"If they are evenly matched, they can't win."

Ignacio answered immediately, pointing toward the sky.

"This is only one of the Uranos regional fleets. There are at least two more of the same size, and they also have twelve air fortresses. Without air superiority, without resupply, what do you think will happen if a single fleet plunges into an airspace with such a vast disparity in strength?"

Nina, her face tense, had no response.

Ignacio glared at the sky, presenting his harsh conclusion.

"And as a result, the foolish prince will sink to the bottom of the sea before ever reaching Pleiades."

Nina offered no rebuttal, silently taking in Ignacio's words. Mio noticed that Nina's elegant legs were trembling.

Ignacio, still glaring at the Uranos Air Fleet, spoke the grim future aloud.

"The Second Isla Fleet will be completely annihilated."

END VOL 5

Back to Vol. 4

Return to Main Page

Forward to Vol. 6