A Certain Pilot's Promise, Vol. 4

A Certain Pilot's Promise, by Koroku Inumura

Illustrations by Haruyuki Morisawa

The Second Multi-Island Sea War

Main Characters

Sakagami Kiyoaki

Candidate for Second Lieutenant in the St Vault Naval Air Force. Member of the “Voltec Air Squadron."

Illia Kreischmidt

Candidate for Second Lieutenant in the St Vault Naval Air Force. Member of the “Voltec Air Squadron.”

Reiner Beck

Candidate for Second Lieutenant in the St Vault Naval Air Force. Member of the “Voltec Air Squadron.”

Kagura Murasaki

Second Lieutenant in the St Vault Naval Air Force. Member of the “Voltec Air Squadron.”

Balthazar Grim Operations Headquarters, St Vault Naval Air Force. Second Lieutenant in the Archipelago Department.

Cecil Hauer

Fourth-year student at Selfaust Officer School.

Mio Syira

One of the “Seven of Eriadore.”

Leo Rosenmuller

Captain and Flight Commander of the Voltec Air Squadron.

Sakagami Masaharu

Flight Chief Master Sergeant. Father of Sakagami Kiyoaki. Former ace pilot of the Akitsu Federation.

Karsten Kreischmidt

Previous Ace of the St Vault Empire. Father of Illia. Lost his right arm in a duel with Sakagami Masaharu.

Akmed

Holy knight leading the airborne mercenary unit “Valkyrie.”

Karnasion

Super ace airship pilot of Urano. His nose art features a black panther.

Zenon Kavaris

Staff officer of the Urano Information Division.

World State

Prologue

“It’s undeniable that your departure is fortunate for me. However…”

Simon Berner spoke these words to the retreating back, hesitating a bit on the next part. Should he really say this to a family member with whom he shares blood? For the past twelve years, he had lived with his brother in this distorted mansion, the main estate of the Berner conglomerate, and now they were facing what could be their final parting in this lifetime.

His brother turned only his face to look back at Simon. He carried a single knapsack, much like any commoner. His attire was a shabby hunting suit with tight cuffs and a simple flat cap. He didn’t look anything like the heir of the Berner conglomerate, more like an ordinary person.

Yet, despite his humble appearance, there was an undeniable noble air to his sharp features, as though they might cut at a touch. Pride and stubbornness gleamed in his eyes, which looked down on everything from a slanted, haughty perspective, while a smirk played at the corner of his mouth. Just as Simon sensed the arrival of a sarcastic remark, it came as expected.

“This shack suits someone as ordinary as you.”

Those were not the words of a typical fourteen-year-old boy. Yet, his brother said them, to his own flesh and blood, at a moment like this.

Simon mimicked the gestures of the adults who frequented the mansion, shrugging his shoulders.

“I don’t understand what bothers you. If you just followed Father’s ways, you could live a life of luxury without lifting a finger.”

His brother snorted. That sound alone translated in Simon’s mind to, “That’s exactly the kind of thinking that makes you ordinary.” Ever since he was born, his brother had always thrown such lines at him, so much so that he didn’t even feel frustration anymore.

“Do you have a plan?”

“Do you think I would run away without one? Everything is in place. Father’s capabilities won’t be enough to trace my steps from here.”

Where does this confidence come from? He’s only fourteen, yet he acts like he knows everything about the world. No matter how talented he is, this attitude is exactly why their father and grandfather have distanced themselves from him.

“I can’t understand you at all. I don’t know what you’re dissatisfied with or what you want to do… Even though we’re brothers, we share no values. But I do wish you good luck. It’s not like I hate you. I’m just sorry I couldn’t even be someone you could vent to, despite being your brother.”

His brother smiled faintly. Then, he fully turned his body toward Simon.

“Can I ask you for one favour?”

“Y-Yeah.”

It was the first time his brother had ever asked him for anything. His brother, who always carried all his problems on his own shoulders and solved them alone. Wanting to help, Simon leaned in eagerly.

The favour was far from ordinary.

“Within ten years, build a jet fighter.”

All Simon could do was blink and stare at his brother’s face.

“In the future, whoever controls the skies will win the wars. In ten years, jet fighters will dominate the skies. By that time, military power will be outsourced to private entities. So, you will lead the Berner conglomerate in building jet fighters. Once they’re built, I’ll buy them all. Understood?”

“……”

“I made this request to both our grandfather and father, but it seems their heads are stuffed with sawdust. They couldn’t comprehend my idea. Even if you’re an idiot, at least you try to listen, so you’re still aware of your limitations.”

Being asked by a fourteen-year-old to “build a jet fighter within ten years” isn’t something anyone could immediately agree to. After a minute of silence, Simon finally gave a dry reply.

“I don’t really understand, but within ten years, I need to build a jet fighter. I’ll… remember that.”

“No. Promise me you’ll build it.”

With unusual intensity, his brother demanded an oath.

“Even for you, it will turn into a tailwind. No matter how much others laugh at you, you must build the jet.”

The usual mocking smile vanished, and for once, his brother’s eyes harboured something sincere. It was a look Simon had never seen before, and for the first time, he felt truly acknowledged as a sibling.

“…Got it. Yes, I understand. Because it’s your request, I’ll do my best. I’ll build a jet within ten years.”

“If you break this promise, I’ll kill you.”

“……………………..”

“What’s with that face? What’s your problem?”

“…If I keep the promise, what do I get in return?”

“After I drive the Berner family to ruin, I’ll spare you.”

“………………………..”

“Your strange expression just keeps getting stranger.”

“…Hey, why? What is it that you really want to do? What could be so important that you’d throw away your status for it?”

The sincerity that had been in his brother’s face twisted quickly into a devilish grin. It was the all-too-familiar expression that everyone—parents, grandparents, relatives—hated so much.

From the corner of his upturned mouth, Balthazar Berner’s uncontrollable ambition burst forth.

“I’m going to conquer a country.”

What an idiot.

Even though Simon thought this in his heart, there was no way his voice would reach Balthazar, who now faced the void with that same grin, dreaming of an impossible future.

“I will obtain my own country. For that, I can’t stay satisfied in a rabbit hutch like this forever. I need to meet more people, and see the wider world. To eventually change this world into the form I desire.”

“……”

Simon had no words to respond. The person standing in front of him no longer seemed like his brother, but like someone from another world. Could this man really have grown up in the same family? Could they even share the same blood? Simon found himself doubting the very fundamentals.

“Well, I’m off. You take care, as best you can, in your ordinary way.”

Even his parting words were laced with sarcasm, as Balthazar suddenly left the room like a spring breeze.

The door closed, and Simon was left alone in the vast, empty room. Outside the decorative window, it was already pitch dark. Where on earth was his brother planning to go at such a late hour? Normally, one would come home, crying and begging within a day or two.

If he were normal.

“But my brother… isn’t normal.”

Simon was certain that his brother would never return to this house. The phrase “sovereign individual” might as well have been invented for Balthazar. He couldn’t imagine that the man, who had so carelessly kicked sand at the Berner family’s reputation, would come crawling back without even getting a foot in the door of his grand ambition. If he were to return, it would surely be after achieving his dream of “conquering a country,” just as he had vowed.

“Build a jet fighter within ten years.”

That order now weighed heavily on Simon’s shoulders.

Normally, such a command could be shrugged off as a joke, but Balthazar was not one to joke. If Simon didn’t build the jet within ten years, he might really be killed.

Simon stared at his reflection in the night’s window. His face clearly showed fear. His brother’s arrogant smile loomed over his own insecure expression.

“My brother will conquer a country, and I will build a jet fighter…”

There was no way to avoid being caught up in such an enormous ambition. Even though it was an impossible dream, the fact that Balthazar had said it aloud seemed to spark some kind of fire deep within Simon.

—Maybe it’s possible.

That heat, burning from within, was strangely comforting. Whether it led to heaven or hell, Simon didn’t care. Wrapped in the flame of this dream, he thought, perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to live his life like this.

“…Change this world into the form I desire…”

Like a man possessed, the younger brother muttered those words to himself.

Part 2: The Second Archipelago War

These colours will soon be lost, never to return. They belong only to this fleeting moment that governs the eastern sky at dawn.

The thin clouds hanging along the horizon, like the mouth of a furnace, burned bright red, and the fresh scarlet overflowed into the ocean, silently bleeding into the ripples. Soon, from that furnace, the red gave way to gold, spilling forth arrows of light that shot across the sky.

At the boundary where morning chased away the night, wings of blue-Gray danced in the air.

Like migrating birds in formation, they descended slowly at an angle into the dawn. Ahead of the steel wings lay a large volcanic island, cutting into the silver sea with its jagged outline.

By the time the sun had lifted from the horizon, bathing the world in brass-coloured light, the wings had returned to Chandler Airfield on Mauregan Island. The pilots of the Red Goat bombers, having completed their routine patrol mission, one by one disembarked from their cockpits.

The canopy of the last Red Goat opened, and a young man, no older than a boy, took off his flight cap. The pristine May morning sun shone down on his still youthful features.

Sakagami Kiyoaki, a candidate for Second Lieutenant in the St Vault Naval Air Force, signalled to the mechanics running toward him that everything was normal. He then leapt down from the wing root to the ground and made his way to the air command post.

After finishing his debriefing to the base commander, Kiyoaki emerged from the command post to find another task awaiting him.

“Stop. We’re taking it here.”

The officer from the public relations department accompanying him gave the order, and Kiyoaki halted his steps. He didn’t even sigh anymore.

“Look that way, toward the morning sun.”

Like a doll, he obediently directed his gaze where he was told. Beside him, Illia Kreischmidt, another candidate for Second Lieutenant, also stared at the camera with an expressionless face that clearly said, “Let’s get this over with already.”

“Look that way. Match your gaze with Sakagami’s.”

The officer outranked them. Illia reluctantly followed the order and directed her gaze as instructed, enduring an excessive number of photos being taken. After changing poses several times in front of the barracks, they finally completed all their early morning duties.

As she watched the backs of the departing officers from the public relations department, now bathed in the high midday sun, Illia spoke in frustration.

“Ridiculous. We’re not animals in a zoo. How much longer do we have to put up with this?”

“It seems like we’ll have to endure it for another year. But thanks to this, we get to fly in planes as candidates, so we should bear with it.”

Kiyoaki tried to calm him down, but Illia’s anger didn’t subside. She was fed up with being subjected to public relations duties and irritated by the officers’ condescending attitude, treating them like objects. Even after being deployed to the battlefield as Second Lieutenant candidates, Kiyoaki and Illia, part of the “Six of Eriadore,” were increasingly expected to act as exemplary “icons.”

It was suffocating. It was displeasing to have their true selves cut away and be showcased across all of St Vault as models of what the military desired in its personnel.

Yet, as Illia had said earlier, it was because of this that they had been assigned to the frontlines and placed in the St Vault Naval Air Force’s most elite combat unit, the “Voltec Air Squadron.” Kiyoaki reminded himself that he had to endure the trivialities and make the most of the opportunity given to him.

“It’s a luxurious setup. Normally, we’d be wasting a year on chores during training cruises. I hate being put on display, but at least we get to see some real action.”

“…Yeah. I’d like to stop getting angry over such trivial things. I want to, but… I just can’t. I’m no good, really, like this…”

Illia muttered as if trying to convince herself. She was often required to smile for the camera, and each time, she reluctantly forced her lips into a crooked grin. It was almost pitiful to watch her try to meet the military’s expectations in her own awkward way.

Kiyoaki smiled. They had been enduring stressful days, and he felt they needed a break.

“What are your plans for tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow? Oh, it’s a rest day. I thought I’d practice a bit of swordsmanship.”

“Sword practice is fine, but how about going out for a change? Reiner and Kagura were talking about heading to the mountains. Apparently, there’s a secret hot spring up there.”

Illia considered the offer for a moment.

“A hot spring, huh? I’ve never been to one.”

“Kagura recommends it. She says it feels amazing.”

“Alright. I’ll go.”

“Then, how about we meet at seven in the morning?”

“Sure. Just don’t oversleep like last time.”

“Sorry, it won’t happen again. See you tomorrow.”

As Kiyoaki waved, Illia lightly waved back before heading off toward the women’s officer barracks. Kiyoaki stretched, then turned toward the men’s barracks to prepare for his afternoon duties.

Now alone, he let out a breath and looked up at the blue sky.

It was a peaceful spring on Mauregan Island, a tranquillity that didn’t seem fitting for the front lines.

In the distance, a range of mountains gently framed the edge of the blue sky. The area around the airfield was an open plain of red earth, with the contrast between the brown land, green mountains, and the blue sky dazzling to the eye.

The scattered forests were filled with thick greenery, and just a few steps in, the smell of damp soil and leaves would greet you. Strange animals would dart through the branches, while large lizards and geckos scurried across the undergrowth, and vividly coloured birds flew overhead.

Higher still, above the birds, large formations of bombers flew in tight formation, their propellers roaring ominously. The sweet scent of oil and the sharp smell of heavy fuel constantly mixed with the wind. Humanity’s destructive activities were steadily encroaching on the untouched natural beauty of the island.

—It’s already been a month since I got here…

The saying often heard in war, “Survive the first month, and you’re a veteran,” wasn’t commonly spoken at Chandler Fortress. Despite being on the front lines, there hadn’t been many opportunities for aerial combat due to the distance separating them from the Hydrabard military base, Sierra Greed, on the other side of the Great Waterfall. If a major aerial battle were to occur, it would be when the enemy’s carrier fleet crossed the waterfall and launched an attack on Chandler Fortress, but there had been no sign of that happening. For now, a relatively relaxed atmosphere enveloped the entire island.

However…

—No one knows when this place might become like Messus Island or Air Hunt Island.

Kiyoaki’s mind was suddenly filled with memories of destruction.

Two flying fortresses of Urano, the “Balsinos” and the “Kalkinos,” hidden within the storm. From those “flying islands,” each as large as Air Hunt Island, swarms of Type 3 Idra fighters had taken off like columns of mosquitoes.

His cadet school and the familiar streets were destroyed helplessly before his eyes.

Both his beloved homeland, Messus Island, and his second home, Air Hunt Island, had been laid to waste twice by Urano, right in front of him.

“I won’t let my guard down again. Never.”

Even his muttering carried a natural intensity. After long years of training, he had finally been allowed to fly a real fighter and enter combat. The conditions were vastly different from the sudden assault on Messus Island, where they hadn’t even been able to take off, or the surprise attack on Air Hunt Island, when he was still just a student.

—The sooner I can stand on the battlefield, the better.

—To stand on the stage where I can change the course of the war with my own hands.

Feeling the fire rise within him, Kiyoaki quickened his pace as he headed back to the barracks.

“Well, I won’t go so far as to say "let’s peek," since we’re not kids.”

Reiner Beck reclined against the rock wall in the milky-white hot spring water, looking up at the blue sky.

“But man, it’s hard to ignore the fact that just thirty steps beyond that bush, there are two beautiful women completely naked, soaking in the hot spring.”

He nudged Kiyoaki, encouraging him to agree, but Kiyoaki shook his head from side to side.

“That’s vulgar. It’s disrespectful to Kagura and Illia.”

“You’re such a good boy. Even after all this time in the harsh military life, you haven’t become jaded. I’m not jealous, but I respect it.”

“We’re officers. We have to act properly. In another year, we’ll be responsible for the lives of our subordinates.”

“You’re so stiff, even in the hot spring. It’s a day off, so forget about that stuff for a while. By the way, between Kagura and Illia, who do you think has the bigger chest? It’s probably Illia, right? She tries to hide it, but it’s pretty obvious she’s got a nice set. Damn, I’d love to confirm it with my own eyes.”

“Hey, stop saying that kind of stuff out loud. They can hear you. I don’t want to be lumped in with you.”

Although Kiyoaki tried to reprimand him, Reiner’s crude remarks didn’t stop. Being a healthy young man himself, Kiyoaki couldn’t help but imagine Kagura and Illia as they really were, their figures flashing briefly in his mind despite his best efforts. He was grateful for the cloudy water and tried to suppress any reactions by imagining something entirely unappealing, like his grandfather cleaning dentures, managing to control himself just in time.

“Instead of saying stupid things, let’s just enjoy the bath. The water’s amazing, isn’t it? Perfect temperature, too. If this were the Akitsu Federation, they’d have built an inn around this spring by now.”

As he said, the quality of the hot spring was excellent. The water clung to the skin with a slimy, viscous texture, and the strong smell of sulphur filled their noses like a stuffed egg. If they were in the Akitsu Federation, this natural hot spring would have long since been turned into a tourist attraction, but here on Mauregan Island, it remained a secluded, secret spot in the mountains that few people visited.

Steam rose from the water, drifting toward the dazzling blue sky. The chirping of birds in the deep mountains could be heard. The green of the May mountains was so fresh and young, it felt as if they were looking up from the bottom of a pristine water tank.

From beyond the bamboo thicket and the rock wall, Kagura and Illia’s faint voices mingled with the sounds of the birds. Though he couldn’t make out their conversation, they seemed to be enjoying themselves. Reiner squinted toward the bushes, grumbling.

“They seem to be having fun. Maybe I really should go peek.”

“We’re not children…”

Kiyoaki rebuked him, trying to keep his thoughts clear and focusing on the serene natural scenery as he soaked in the generous hot water.

Relaxing her body, Kagura Murasaki leaned against the rock wall behind her and floated on the surface of the milky water, gazing straight up at the blue sky.

“This feels amazing. Who would’ve thought we’d get to soak in a hot spring at the frontlines?”

Smiling, she glanced at her companion.

“This is my first time in a hot spring.”

Illia, who had her long hair tied back, sat in the water hugging her knees to cover her chest. She remained in a curled-up, seated posture.

“Relax your arms and legs and let the water carry you. Like this.”

Kagura’s limbs floated gracefully on the surface, like leaves drifting on water, while sunlight filtered through the trees, casting a soft, misty blue light on her. Her figure, bathed in the ethereal glow, looked like that of a forest fairy wrapped in a delicate white aura.

Illia glanced at Kagura and hesitantly mimicked her posture.

Resting the back of her head on the rock, she closed her eyes, relaxed her body, and stretched out her long legs. The buoyancy of the water lifted her naked body to the surface.

—Ah…

She couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief. The warmth and softness of the water seeped into her body, easing the fatigue from her duties. The tranquillity of the mountains, the refreshing atmosphere, and the distant sounds of unfamiliar birds combined to lull her into a drowsy state.

Just as she was about to drift off, she felt a slight ripple in the water. Opening her eyes slightly, she saw Kagura had risen halfway out of the water and was peering at Illia’s exposed body.

“Eek…!”

Startled, Illia quickly covered her chest with her hands and sat up. Kagura, with a serious expression, nodded.

“Perfect figure. I couldn’t help but admire it.”

“W-what are you doing, Kagura, all of a sudden?”

“This is the first time I’ve felt admiration for another woman’s body. Could you let me see more?”

“Please don’t get any closer. This is really embarrassing.”

“There’s no need to be shy. This is a rare chance. Let’s get to know each other better.”

“W-what…? Kagura, that’s too much!”

“Oh, come on, it’s fine, it’s fine.”

“No, it’s not fine! Ah, no, stop! Stop it…!!”

Illia scrambled away from Kagura, kicking up water as she fled. Kagura, exhaling in satisfaction, reclined against the rock wall, her hands behind her head.

“Your body is the epitome of harmony. I’ve been blessed to witness such divine craftsmanship.”

“That’s disturbing! Please never do that again…!!”

“I got a little carried away. I apologize. Now, could you please turn back around?”

“I refuse. Kagura, you’re acting strange.”

“I’m just teasing. I won’t pounce on you again, so cheer up.”

Illia kept her back to Kagura, though her wary eyes remained on her. Kagura, sensing the need to smooth things over, softened her tone and tried to steer the conversation toward a topic Illia might find more engaging.

“Oh, by the way, I received a second letter from Cecil. It seems she’s made friends at her new school, but she still feels lonely.”

Illia, still keeping an eye on Kagura, responded.

“I also received a third letter from her the other day. She wrote about how she can’t wait to graduate.”

“Kiyoaki and Reiner also seem to have received letters. It would be nice if we could all be together again after graduation.”

“The public relations department probably wants to keep us ‘Six of Eriadore’ together. I think it’s a possibility.”

Despite one member being lost, the “Six of Eriadore” still had strong support from the younger generation. Even though Mio had betrayed them, this only heightened the sense of tragedy surrounding the remaining six, making it easier for the military to dramatize and promote them, garnering even more attention than before. The Navy and Air Force still wanted to use the “Six” to attract more volunteers.

Cecil was currently attending the Selfaust Officer School in St Vault’s capital. She was now a fourth-year student. After the destruction of the Air Hunt Island in September of the previous year, many of the Air Hunt Officer School buildings had collapsed, forcing some students to transfer. Illia, Kiyoaki, Reiner, and Cecil had all transferred to Selfaust, where they were now studying in a new environment.

With Illia, Kiyoaki, and Reiner graduating and being assigned to the Voltec Air Squadron alongside Kagura, Cecil was left behind at school as their junior.

“We’ll meet again next year. Whether or not we’ll still be on this island by then is uncertain. But as long as we survive, we’ll meet again.”

“…Yes. I believe that. We’ll survive, and we’ll see each other again…”

Illia and Cecil were as close as sisters, and being separated must have been difficult for both of them. Though the current war situation was calm, once major operations resumed, there would be no guarantees for their safety. In a moment where no one could be certain they would survive until tomorrow, Illia’s words carried a strong determination to stay alive for Cecil’s sake. Understanding their feelings, Kagura changed the subject once more.

“Oh, by the way, I saw Baltha on my last day off. We had lunch together.”

Illia’s expression turned slightly surprised.

“You met with him? How did you manage to get in touch?”

Balthazar worked at the Operations Headquarters for the Archipelago Region, which was located on the same Mauregan Island as the Voltec Air Squadron. So technically, they could have met, but Balthazar wasn’t the type to meet without a good reason. He tended to avoid unnecessary interactions, especially with people he wasn’t close to.

“I just barged into his office and asked for his address. You know, since both Baltha and I are part of the "Six," the people at the Operations Headquarters were lenient and gave me his address. He lives in an exclusive officers’ dormitory near the coast. The building was pretty elegant. I paid him a surprise visit on his day off, knocked on his door, and he came out unprepared. You should’ve seen the look on his face when he saw me—it was hilarious. I wish I could’ve shown you.”

Kagura laughed heartily, while Illia looked at her with a hint of envy.

“You’re so bold… Weren’t you worried he’d be annoyed?”

“He looked grumpy the whole time, but when I invited him to lunch, he came along, so I guess he wasn’t that bothered. Knowing him, he’s probably an outsider at work too, so he must’ve wanted someone to talk to. We had lunch at a nearby diner and then took a walk along the coast. It was actually pretty fun.”

“Kagura and Baltha, just the two of you?”

“Yeah. We talked about work and the future. Since he’s part of the Operations Headquarters, his perspective is different from the officers in the Air Squadron, which was quite interesting. I could tell you more details if you’re interested—it might be useful for you too.”

“Yes, I’d love to hear it. Please, go ahead.”

Kagura rose from the water and sat on the rock wall. The clean light filtering through the trees gently illuminated her bare upper body.

“When we left the diner and I invited him for a walk, Baltha had that usual sour look on his face, but he ended up coming with me anyway. He tried to justify it by saying he wanted to hear about the inner workings of the Voltec Air Squadron, but we ended up talking about all sorts of other things too. His constant disclaimers of "Don’t get the wrong idea" are basically his catchphrase at this point, and every time he said it, I had to fight back laughter…”

“Don’t misunderstand. I don’t care what happens to you. However, given my position, I come across information that you wouldn’t normally have access to. It’s not classified enough to be top secret, so sharing it doesn’t count as a breach.”

Balthazar stopped on the sandy beach, rattling off the words in one breath before glaring at Kagura. Kagura stopped as well, nodding back at him with a smile.

“Yes, yes, I understand. Since we’ve got this opportunity, let’s exchange meaningful information. So, about this sign of the decisive battle?”

When she asked, Balthazar crossed his arms dramatically over his chest and gazed up at the sky.

The bright May sunlight baked the white sand on the beach. There was no one else around, just the cries of the seagulls flying low in the sky and the sound of the waves washing against the shore. After a prolonged and somewhat theatrical silence, Balthazar turned his gaze back to Kagura, framed by the deep blue sea and sky.

“The Battle of Crossnodal was a victory for us. The Hydrabard ground forces have begun to retreat. The Urano forces’ strategy to land in the Northern Archipelago has crumbled. They attempted to destroy the new fleet at Air Hunt Island and capture Crossnodal with that momentum, but the Hydrabard ground forces were too weak. No matter how much Urano dominates the skies, if their employer’s ground forces are fragile, large-scale island invasions will be difficult.”

Kagura nodded. The news of Urano’s retreat from Crossnodal Island was fresh and had not yet been made public.

“A large island like Crossnodal, where naval bombardments can’t reach the centre, can still resist through its forests and mountains, even if they lose the air and sea battles.”

“Exactly. In a prolonged battle, since Crossnodal is close to our homeland and has calm seas, we can send reinforcements quickly and continuously. On the other hand, Urano and the Hydrabard Alliance, cut off by the Great Waterfall and far from their homeland, must maintain long supply lines. The longer the battle drags on, the more the tide turns in our favour.”

“So, for the time being, the Northern Archipelago is safe?”

“Defending the North Sea alone won’t win the war. We need to cross the Great Waterfall ourselves, land in the Southern Archipelago, and take Sierra Greed on Santos Island. The problem is Urano’s flying fortresses. Because of them, we can’t make a move in the southern seas.”

“The threat of the flying fortresses… we learned that lesson well at Air Hunt Island last year. They’re like fleets that can’t be sunk, no matter how much they’re attacked. Being told to capture one sounds pretty impossible…”

Of the twelve flying fortresses that Urano possessed, four had been dispatched to the Archipelago, including the “Balsinos” and “Kalkinos,” which had destroyed Air Hunt Island. Without a way to counter these “flying islands,” St Vault had repeatedly suffered humiliating defeats.

“Research on how to capture a flying fortress is progressing. The plan is to disable their airfields and anti-air facilities before landing. Unlike island assaults from the sea, we can’t use landing craft. The only option is to load airborne troops onto large hovercrafts capable of hovering and drop them down, but we’ll need a substantial number of hovercraft and airborne troops to subdue the vast surface of a flying fortress. Preparations for that are underway.”

“So, landing craft escorted by destroyers charging in on the surf isn’t possible. It’s going to be a brutal battle.”

“The hardest part will be securing a forward base. Surrounded by enemies, we’ll have to quickly establish a beachhead. This is where air superiority fighters—your Voltec Air Squadron—play a crucial role.”

“Yes. We’ve run several exercises for securing air superiority around the flying fortresses. The challenge, compared to regular island fortresses, is that the target is always moving, and we have to watch for attacks from underneath as well.”

“There’s no precedent for capturing a flying fortress, so we’re feeling our way through everything. But without neutralizing them, there’s no chance of victory in the Hydrabard War.”

A heavy feeling settled in Kagura’s chest. The twelve flying fortresses were what made Urano the rulers of the skies. As Balthazar said, unless they could neutralize the four floating over the Archipelago, the chaos there would never end.

Capturing one of these “flying islands,” each the size of Air Hunt Island, would require the mobilization of 20,000 to 30,000 troops. Just transporting that many soldiers onto the surface of a fortress from the sky would be a monumental task, not to mention the casualties that would likely exceed those of a typical amphibious landing operation.

“In any case, we won’t stay on the defensive forever. The destruction of Air Hunt delayed us significantly, but a major invasion operation should begin soon. Don’t let your guard down.”

“Thanks. I appreciate the valuable information. By the way, Baltha, I know this is sudden, but…”

“Hm?”

“How are you doing at work? I was a little worried that, knowing you, you might be somewhat of an outsider there.”

Balthazar frowned briefly before glaring at Kagura’s smiling face.

“I don’t need you to worry about that.”

“Sure, but I was thinking, since you’ve made such a big name for yourself, there might be some jealousy from others.”

“That’s nonsense. Let them be.”

Balthazar snorted and dismissed Kagura’s concerns, turning his face away.

During the summer of the operations, Balthazar had been the only one to predict and report on Operation Judeka in advance. None of the elite strategists at the Operations Headquarters had seen it coming, but a single intern had cracked the enemy’s plan in one night. This earned Balthazar even greater fame than he already had as the leading figure of the “Six of Eriadore.” His prediction was reported extensively in the media, with newspapers and magazines calling him the “future Chief of Staff of the St Vault Army.” Word of his sudden rise in status had reached Kagura, along with rumours that his colleagues at the Operations Headquarters were jealous and had begun harassing him.

“Is there jealousy? Among the men?”

“I couldn’t care less. It’s the work of lowly people. I only pity them.”

From the tone of his voice, Kagura could tell Balthazar was putting on a brave face. Despite his tough exterior, it was unlikely that Balthazar, a newly minted second lieutenant, wasn’t affected by the resentment and harassment from higher-ranking officers.

“You’re strong.”

Kagura dropped her usual smile and looked seriously at Balthazar’s profile.

“Strong or weak doesn’t matter. It doesn’t affect me.”

“…Yeah. That’s just like you.”

“What are you laughing at? What’s so amusing? You look creepy.”

Still frowning, Balthazar shot a sideways glance at Kagura’s smile.

Kagura took a small step toward him. She was now close enough that if she lowered her head, her forehead would touch his chest. Looking up at his grim face from up close, she spoke again, seriously.

“Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to lean on someone once in a while.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re not as cold as you think you are.”

“What did you eat? Have you been drinking? Go dunk your head in the sea and cool off.”

Balthazar, unusually flustered, turned away from her, facing the ocean to avoid her gaze.

The waves washed over their feet as two white birds flew off together toward the horizon.

With a playful tone, Kagura called out to Balthazar’s back.

“You’re interesting.”

Balthazar glanced back slightly, narrowing his eyes.

“Are you trying to compliment me or mock me? Which is it?”

“Who knows? I don’t even know myself. What do I want, I wonder?”

Smiling, Kagura shrugged, clasping her hands behind her back before turning on her heel.

“Well, I should be heading back. Thanks for the meaningful conversation today.”

Balthazar snorted again, shoved his hands into his pockets, and turned his eyes back inland.

“Don’t ever show up unannounced again.”

“Alright. I’ll make sure to contact you before I visit next time.”

“…You plan on coming again?”

Kagura tilted her head and made a small request.

“Is that a problem?”

“…You’re impossible. Do whatever you want.”

With those parting words, Balthazar turned his back on her and began walking home alone. Kagura, with a slight smile, jogged after him, following his retreating figure.

“…And so, it was really fun. I think Baltha enjoyed it just as much.”

Kagura finished her story and sank back into the hot water, up to her shoulders.

Feeling slightly overheated, Illia stood up, covering her front with a towel, and sat down on the rock wall.

“…I didn’t know you two were that close.”

“We’re not particularly close. But we’re classmates, and it feels odd to ignore someone who’s on the same island. Plus, teasing him is amusing.”

“Is that so… I thought Baltha was highly regarded at Operations Headquarters, given that he was the only one to foresee Operation Judeka beforehand.”

“He’s too talented and lacks charm. I’m sure the senior officers find him difficult to deal with. He always had a certain shadow about him, but over the past year, that shadow has grown even darker.”

Kagura laughed again.

“I’m sure Baltha was happy too. He never would’ve gone for a walk with anyone during our school days.”

“True. Next time, why don’t you join us, Illia? He’ll probably make a displeased face, but deep down, I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.”

“…Yes, if he agrees to my presence. Besides, it wouldn’t hurt to know more about future operations…”

Illia nodded, looking toward the trees.

—Kagura always seems so happy when talking about Baltha.

That thought crossed Illia’s mind. Kagura always lived with a bright and cheerful demeanour, but she seemed to shine the most when she was teasing Balthazar. Perhaps their personalities aligned more than one might expect.

“I’ve been talking too long. Shall we get out? Staying in too long might make us dizzy.”

“Yes, I feel much more relaxed.”

The two got out of the hot spring, dried off with towels, and put on their civilian clothes. Kagura called out through the bushes.

“We’re coming out now!”

“Okay! We’re already done here!” Reiner’s reply echoed back.

“You didn’t come peeking after all?”

“I thought about it, but since Kagura has a sword, I decided against it!”

“Too bad for you! I got a full view of Illia!”

“And I saw all of Kiyoaki!”

Kagura and Reiner shouted nonsensical banter back and forth across the bushes, while Illia, looking exasperated, watched from the side.

After reuniting with Kiyoaki and Reiner, the four of them rode their bikes down the mountain road and arrived at a seaside restaurant. The log cabin-style interior was bustling with soldiers on leave, reflecting the war economy of Mauregan Island. As Kiyoaki and the others entered the restaurant, naturally, the eyes of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers turned toward them. As members of the well-publicized “Six of Eriadore,” their faces and names were well known, even to soldiers from other units.

They were greeted and received casual remarks from those they passed. There was no strange prejudice or discrimination toward Kiyoaki and Kagura, who were from Akitsu, and the atmosphere remained warm and relaxed, without the stiff formality that would come if any officers were present. Kiyoaki and the others, dressed in civilian clothes, fit in well.

“The most popular one is Illia, I think.”

As they sat at a table for four, Kagura smiled and said this. Illia shook her head with a stern expression.

“I don’t understand.”

“They expect you to be the next ace, and besides, you’re beautiful.”

“…I don’t understand.”

Repeating the same words, Illia lowered her gaze, clearly uncomfortable. Despite her protests, the soldiers seemed happiest when speaking to Illia. Some even pulled out notebooks and asked for her autograph.

“They really admire you. Next year, when you’re a second lieutenant, you’ll be even more popular. With your skills, you’ll probably be leading a squadron soon. I wouldn’t mind being one of your subordinates.”

Reiner grinned, but Illia glared at him sharply.

“Reiner, you’ll also be leading subordinates next year. Joking about wanting to be your classmate’s subordinate is inappropriate.”

Reprimanded directly, Reiner chuckled awkwardly.

“Your popularity won’t last long. Once they see your scary side after three days, the troops will be terrified of you.”

“I don’t care. I’m not leading to be liked.”

After firmly declaring her stance, Illia glanced at the menu and nodded.

“I’ll have a cheeseburger.”

Kagura, intrigued, asked with interest.

“Reiner might be right. When you and Kiyoaki become second lieutenants, it won’t take long for you to be entrusted with leading a flight of three planes. Do you have any role models for a squadron leader?”

“A role model…? I’ve never really thought about it…”

Illia fell silent, deep in thought. Beside her, Kiyoaki lifted his gaze upward.

“I’d like to say my father, but he never talked about his experiences in battle… So, I admire someone like Master Akmed. He’s strong both as an individual pilot and as a squadron leader. The fact that he excels at both is amazing.”

“Yes, the abilities to engage in solo combat and to lead a squadron are quite different. Even if someone isn’t great at aerial combat, they can still be a great squadron leader and take down a powerful enemy by coordinating many planes.”

“Yes, I admire squadron leadership, but before that, I want to improve my solo combat skills. You can’t be a squadron leader unless you’re recognized for your aerial abilities first. I’ll think about leadership once I get there.”

“That’s fair. It may be a little early to focus on that. But it’s interesting. How about you, Illia? You seem to be thinking about it quite seriously.”

Illia had even crossed her arms, deeply considering her answer. Perhaps it was the first time she’d really thought about what kind of squadron leader she would become.

After a long pause, Illia finally spoke in a low voice.

“To be honest… I’ve never imagined myself as a squadron leader. I’ve always pursued individual strength. I believed that if I became strong, my squadron would naturally follow.”

“That’s a valid approach. I think it suits you, Illia.”

“…What about you, Kagura? What kind of squadron leader do you want to be?”

“I… hmm. I’m not as skilled in aerial combat as you two, so I’d like to be a leader who accurately understands the overall situation and can give precise commands… or at least, that’s what I hope for…”

Her voice trailed off, and Kagura gave a somewhat troubled smile.

“Honestly, I’m anxious. It’s been a month since I became a second lieutenant, and I wonder if I’ll truly be able to lead my subordinates properly when I’m entrusted with them in battle.”

Kagura’s words were uncharacteristically filled with doubt. Kiyoaki leaned forward, speaking with enthusiasm.

“Kagura, you’ll be fine! Sure, maybe things won’t go perfectly at first, but with experience, you’ll definitely become a great leader!”

“Thank you. Yes, I want to gain experience. But the thought that, in the process of becoming skilled at command, some of my subordinates might become casualties… That weight is terrifying.”

Her voice lacked confidence. It was a side of Kagura they had never seen before. The month spent as an officer had clearly affected even someone as carefree as Kagura.

The responsibility of leading others.

The difficulty of carrying the weight of others’ lives was something they had been taught since their days at the officer academy. It was the officer’s job to carry as many of their subordinates safely through the extremities of battle. They understood this intellectually, but only now, standing on the real battlefield, did they begin to grasp the true weight of that responsibility. Even Kagura, who usually carried herself with ease, seemed burdened.

In individual combat, a mistake could be paid for with one’s own life. But in squadron combat, the leader’s mistakes could cost the lives of all their subordinates. Kagura’s fears weren’t just her own; Kiyoaki knew that he, too, would have to face the same responsibility in a year’s time. Tightening his expression, he spoke with determination.

“Kagura, you’ve performed excellently so far, and you’re well-liked by the Voltec Air Squadron. Just be confident, and no one will complain.”

Illia nodded in agreement.

“There’s never been a perfect leader from the start. Even the greatest commanders in history built their reputations on the sacrifices of many subordinates. As an officer, it’s inevitable that some subordinates will be lost.”

“Yes, I understand that logically. But when I’ve spoken with the soldiers and non-commissioned officers, I’ve come to know them as people, and I realize that each one has family and friends depending on them. That weight isn’t something I could prepare for from a textbook.”

Kagura’s eyes dimmed. Kiyoaki and Illia exchanged concerned glances, unsure of how to respond.

After they placed their orders, Reiner, still grinning, spoke up.

“There’s no point in worrying about it too much. It’s war, people die, that’s normal. If we make mistakes, we officers die too. It’s the enemy killing our men, not us. It’s not our fault.”

Reiner’s casual statement seemed overly simplistic, and Kiyoaki was about to object, but upon reflection, he realized that, despite Reiner’s nonchalant attitude, his words might have been exactly what Kagura needed to hear.

Kagura smiled faintly.

“Yes… sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you. I know I just need to be resolute.”

“Kagura, you’re actually really kind, aren’t you? You always talk about slashing things, so you seem scary, but deep down, you’re kind.”

“I don’t always talk about slashing things… But this isn’t kindness, it’s just cowardice. Sorry to dampen the mood on a day off. Let’s talk about something fun. Oh, I was telling Illia earlier, I recently met up with Baltha…”

Kagura, in an effort to change the mood, forced a smile and started talking about her recent encounter with Balthazar. Kiyoaki couldn’t help but think that Kagura truly came alive when she was teasing Balthazar. And as they continued talking, a thought naturally took root in his mind.

—I’d like to be Kagura’s subordinate.

If he had to entrust his life on the battlefield, he’d want a leader like Kagura—someone compassionate, brave, and committed to doing her best. He realized it wasn’t just him. In the near future, everyone who served under Kagura would likely feel the same way.

After their enjoyable meal, night had fallen, and Kiyoaki and his companions returned to the barracks. They shared the room with eight other second lieutenants. It was quieter and more comfortable compared to the prefab huts where the non-commissioned pilots slept, which housed around twenty people per unit. There was no set bedtime, so they had the freedom to stay up late if they wanted.

Kiyoaki lay on his bed alone, reading the latest research book on aircraft. The book discussed a new fighter plane being developed by the St Vault Naval Air Force’s aviation technology division, which was equipped with a more powerful turboprop engine, an improvement over the traditional reciprocating engine. With a goal of reaching a top speed of 750 kilometres per hour, it was possible that, once deployed in combat, it could make an individual fighter capable of scattering entire enemy forces, like the legendary heroes of old.

—This war is on the verge of a major turning point.

Kiyoaki and Illia were stirred by Balthazar’s talk with Kagura about the “next big operation.” It had been a month since they had arrived at the frontlines, and they hadn’t yet experienced any significant battles, leaving them feeling restless. Imagining himself flying in real combat and bringing down Urano filled him with determination.

His gaze drifted to the bedside table.

Officers were allowed to display personal items on their bedside tables, and Kiyoaki had placed a photo frame there.

In the picture, the “Seven of Eriadore” were smiling.

It was taken in front of the auditorium at the Air Hunt Officer School when Kagura and Balthazar had graduated.

The great auditorium, which had since been destroyed in the bombing of Urano, still stood intact in the photo, with its orderly red brick walls preserved.

And—Mio was there too.

Sandwiched between Illia and Cecil, looking a bit uncomfortable, Mio stared slightly above the camera with an awkward posture.

Kiyoaki’s heart ached.

An unrelenting pain welled up from his heart and spread to every cell in his body.

“Mio…”

Seeing that no one was around, he quietly called her name, looking at the photo.

“Where are you now?”

Of course, there was no answer.

“What are you doing?”

But he couldn’t stop himself from speaking to her.

“I want to see you.”

His honest feelings spilled out in words.

It had been nearly eight months since their farewell.

"I’m a traitor. A spy for Urano."

Those words, spoken as they parted on the day Air Hunt Island was destroyed, echoed in his mind.

"I leaked all the information about this island to Urano."

"Oh, and by the way, my dad did the same for Messus Island. He leaked all the information to Urano, which is why Odessa Fortress was so easy to capture."

"Everything I ever told you was a lie."

Mio’s words were like blades, tearing Kiyoaki apart from the inside. Invisible wounds, thousands upon thousands, layered over each other, burning his thoughts.

—Messus Island’s invasion was orchestrated by Mio’s father?

—Then… the ones who killed my family… were Mio’s family?

That dark thought threatened to awaken feelings of hatred. The kind faces of his gentle parents and beloved sister flashed behind his eyelids, superimposed over the burning memory of Messus Island.

—No. It’s not true. Mio’s family wouldn’t do something like that.

But there was no way to confirm his doubts anymore. All Kiyoaki could do now was ask the unmoving photo of Mio the same unanswered questions over and over again.

If only he could see her.

If only he could talk to her.

Maybe then he could cleanse himself of this pain, this helplessness.

“I want to see you, Mio.”

Once again, Kiyoaki whispered the same prayer he had uttered thousands of times before. An overwhelming sense of emptiness filled every cell in his body, threatening to drag him into a state of self-destruction.

"Mission complete. I’m heading back to Pleiades."

If her final words were true, Mio should be in Pleiades.

That meant if he continued chasing Urano, eventually capturing Pleiades, he might be able to see her again.

It was a small fragment of hope. But it was all he had.

“We’ll meet again. We will… I’m sure of it.”

Kiyoaki muttered to himself, trying to lift his spirits, as he gazed out the window at the night sky. Somewhere in this vast sky, Mio was out there, still working for Urano, and the thought of it made his heart burn with a pain that was almost unbearable.

Part 2 The decisive battlefield that would determine the outcome of the Hydrabard War was undoubtedly the Great Waterfall.

This towering waterfall, with a height difference of 1,300 meters, separated the northern and southern archipelagos. For years, the existence of this endless waterfall had isolated the Hydrabard Confederation from St Vault, and only with the advancement of aviation technology did the two meet—leading inevitably to a history woven with conflict and bloodshed.

The goal was pillage.

“There’s no doubt that a nation’s economy prospers through pillage. However, to plunder everything from another country requires a massive army to both conquer and maintain it. The great powers of the Mitterland continent eventually found themselves in a position where they had to plunder just to sustain their armies. Unable to support the military with the national treasury, they were forced into endless pillaging just to keep the army afloat. It’s a bad joke. Even if St Vault wins the Hydrabard War, the national economy will be saddled with enormous debt. In other words, this is a war where no one gains, whether we win or lose.”

Captain Leo Rosenmuller, the squadron leader of the Voltec Air Squadron, said this with a weary expression as he brought his coffee cup to his lips.

In the ready room of Chandler Fortress’s third airfield, more than twenty fighter pilots were always on standby in case of emergencies. Due to the eerie calm that had persisted lately, many were killing time, and if luck permitted, they might even get the chance to chat with national heroes like Leo, who would sometimes indulge in idle conversation with newcomers.

Kiyoaki and Illia listened with wide eyes, absorbing every word. It wasn’t every day that they got the chance to hear directly from St Vault’s current ace pilot, who boasted 56 confirmed kills.

“Hydrabard outsourced their air force to Urano because it was cheaper. They figured it was better to host the parasite that is Urano than to face St Vault’s plundering. To Hydrabard, both St Vault and Urano are external threats, but Urano is geographically farther away. They had to deal with the nearer enemy to survive… and so, with limited choices, the Confederation allied with Urano.”

Leo’s hawk-like gaze lifted to the sky outside the window. In newspapers and magazines, Leo appeared sharp and confident, a figure designed to inspire national pride. However, in person, he was thoughtful, weary, and carried a certain darkness within him.

Kiyoaki, feeling bold, decided to ask a question.

“I’m surprised. Captain, you seem quite sympathetic towards Hydrabard.”

“I just understand why they fight… You two will feel this someday too, but sometimes, you lose sight of why you’re fighting. As vanguards sent to plunder Hydrabard, I’ve occasionally questioned the need to kill enemy pilots…”

Leo trailed off, letting out a soft sigh, his expression softening.

“…I shouldn’t be saying this. Complaining to new recruits… it’s your fathers’ rivalry, isn’t it? That’s why I got carried away.”

He awkwardly tried to justify his ramblings, but Kiyoaki hurriedly waved his hands in apology.

“Not at all, sir! This is valuable insight! I’ve never considered the larger strategic perspective… I’ve only trained to fly and shoot down enemies. Your words are very educational!”

Leo, hearing this, gave a small, wry smile and lit a cigarette. His sharp, silver hair and rugged features were always tinged with a sombre hue.

“The truth is, don’t take what I say too seriously. Even I don’t think about such complex things when I’m shooting down enemies. And as for my kill count, it’s all thanks to my subordinates—none of it is personal skill.”

Though he spoke humbly, Leo’s face, hardened by years of command, reflected the weight of leading others. He had likely witnessed the deaths of many subordinates, and his words carried a deep mix of care and sorrow.

After just a short conversation, Kiyoaki found himself drawn to Leo’s character. He didn’t boast, and he spoke sincerely to newcomers. It became clear that great officers like Leo possessed not just combat skills, but also human qualities that earned the trust of their men. It was that trust that had led to his 56 kills.

Illia, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.

“May I ask a question?”

Leo nodded silently, and Illia asked in a serious tone.

“When leading a squadron, what is the most important thing to keep in mind?”

“Ensuring as many of your subordinates return alive as possible. That’s the squadron leader’s mission.”

His response came immediately, with such conviction that Illia was momentarily overwhelmed by the strength behind it.

“What should be done to prevent losing subordinates?”

Once again, Leo answered without hesitation.

“Spot the enemy before they spot you. That’s all there is to it. Guide your allies to favourable airspace, attack before being noticed, and retreat immediately.”

“And what if the battle turns into a dogfight?”

“Never end up alone. Even if the formation breaks down, stay in friendly airspace and fight together. Never pursue the enemy on your own. Survive by numbers, not by individual skill… Drill that into your squadron every day.”

Illia absorbed Leo’s advice with unwavering seriousness. The lessons Leo had brought back from the battlefield, having earned them through blood, were invaluable to the new recruits, and they were grateful for his generosity in sharing them.

“Thank you, sir. I will take these lessons to heart.”

“Wow, Captain is giving a lecture! Mind if we join in?”

Suddenly, a high-pitched voice interrupted Illia’s thanks.

“I wanna hear the Captain’s lecture too!”

Two young female soldiers, who still had a hint of girlishness to them, sat down across from Leo, flanking Illia and throwing their arms around her shoulders.

Leo’s stern face darkened even more.

“It’s not a lecture. Just idle chatter. And Illia is an officer—don’t get too friendly.”

The two female soldiers blinked and responded, still holding Illia’s shoulders.

“Illia’s still just a second lieutenant candidate, not an officer yet, right? We’re equals.”

“She’ll be an officer next year. Show some respect.”

“So, we’re good until next year, right, Illia? We can still be buddies until then?”

The girls stared into Illia’s eyes from up close, and Illia mumbled awkwardly.

“Uh, yes… You’re my seniors, so I still have a lot to learn from you.”

“See! Illia’s fine with it! That means Kiyoaki’s fine too, right?”

The girl on Illia’s left pulled Kiyoaki into a hug with her other arm, flashing him a wide smile.

“Uh, yes… I’d appreciate your guidance in learning more about the squadron.”

The lively sisters, twins and elite first-class pilots of the Voltec Air Squadron, beamed at Leo with triumphant smiles.

“See? We’re all equals here! Feels natural, doesn’t it?”

“It’s not natural. And stop drinking Illia’s drink, Lala. And you, Lulu, that’s Kiyoaki’s food. Honestly… I keep telling you to act more like soldiers.”

Despite his words, Leo couldn’t hide the affection in his eyes for the mischievous twin sisters, who had earned their place as the squadron’s mascots.

“So, what were you talking about?”

“Something juicy? Like who’s dating who or any secret affairs?”

“Uh, no, it wasn’t like that…”

“By the way, Captain, did you hear? Ellen and Macguire broke up. Apparently, Toby stole Ellen, and Macguire was furious, but it turns out Macguire was secretly seeing Shorty on the side. But then Shorty was also secretly seeing Neville, so it’s just a big mess.”

“I don’t care. They’re always switching partners. They should show some restraint.”

“And get this, Karen hooked up with Jude, but Jude was secretly with Macguire, and now Jude’s caught between men and women. Oh, and rumour has it Jude’s got his eyes on Illia, so watch out.”

“Huh…?”

“Tell Jude Illia is his superior officer. He’d better stop thinking stupid things.”

“And when Hamilton was flirting with Sebastian, Connie caught them in the act, and it turned into a huge mess. Leon tried to break it up but got caught in it too, and by the end, all four of them were tangled up in bed until morning. Oh, and during all that, Leon whispered, "I’m in love with Kagura Murasaki," while hugging Hamilton.”

“Tell Leon that Kagura is an officer cadet from an allied nation. If he gets involved, it could cause an international incident. He should refrain from any reckless behaviour.”

Kiyoaki and Illia listened to Lulu and Lala’s gossip, their expressions tense. They couldn’t fully understand half of what was being said, but they grasped enough to realize it was all about the Voltec Air Squadron’s internal love affairs. The lewd details, full of infidelity and crossing gender boundaries, were mind-boggling. There was no mention of combat or tactics—just an endless stream of lowbrow, sensational gossip.

Despite their wild behaviour, the non-commissioned officers of the Voltec Air Squadron were air combat specialists. They were elites, handpicked from across the country for their superior piloting skills. Gender didn’t matter—when it came to flying, they were all the best of the best.

Because they were only taught aerial combat techniques in flight school, they often surpassed even officer pilots in dogfighting skills. However, they lacked general education and were often considered rough and uncouth, even outcasts in normal society. Yet, on the battlefield, where killing enemies made you a hero, it was those outcasts who often thrived. The job of officers like Kiyoaki was to lead and harness the immense power of these wild, “misfit” pilots, directing them toward victory.

But leadership wasn’t something you learned from a textbook. It required face-to-face interaction, building trust through shared experiences. And Kiyoaki was beginning to realize just how difficult and distant that goal was.

“Hey, Captain, have you ever had an affair? Are you faithful to your wife?” Lulu suddenly asked, resting her chin on her hand.

Leo scowled and answered curtly.

“No. Is that a problem?”

“Still head over heels, huh? I see. And you’ve got a daughter, right? Must be tough with leave still a long way off.”

“It’s not tough. This is the job.”

“Man, you’re so rigid. You could have anyone you want as Captain. Seems like a waste.”

“I don’t care. I’m here to fight a war, not to have affairs with my subordinates.”

“You’re missing out! You never know when you’ll die, so you’ve got to live for the moment! Right, Illia?”

Lulu turned to Illia for confirmation.

“Eh, uh… I haven’t really thought about it much…”

“What? Then what are you living for? I don’t get it!”

“Hey, Lulu, don’t put Illia on the spot. Illia’s a serious person, not like you two who float through life all the time.”

Even after Leo scolded them with a sharp tone, Lulu and Lala just laughed it off without a care.

“Illia’s super popular with the guys in our squad, you know? They can’t make a move since you’re an officer, but they’re all staring at you with these hungry eyes. If you’re not careful, you might get jumped, so don’t go out alone at night.”

“Uh, okay…”

Illia, looking troubled, sighed and glanced toward Kiyoaki for help. Feeling flustered, Kiyoaki pleaded with Lulu and Lala.

“Um, Illia really isn’t good with this kind of talk, so… if you could take it easy, we’d really appreciate it…”

For a moment, Lulu and Lala exchanged glances, and then they both let out high-pitched squeals.

“Wait, what? Are you guys dating?”

“Sorry, we didn’t know. You guys didn’t look like that kind of couple. So, you’re already claimed, huh? That’s too bad!”

“I totally thought Illia was still a virgin, but I guess I was wrong. Man, I’ve lost my touch.”

“But don’t relax just yet. The guys in our squad don’t care if someone’s already taken. They’ll steal from right under you, so you better mark your territory every night.”

Lulu and Lala were getting all excited, throwing around crude terms Kiyoaki didn’t fully understand. He realized they had completely misunderstood his relationship with Illia and hurriedly raised his voice.

“N-No, it’s not like that! We’re just friends from the same officer school, and we happened to get assigned to the same squad. So, um, it’s really not like that…”

“Oh, really? So you’re not together after all? Yeah, I didn’t think you guys gave off that kind of vibe. But hey, Kiyoaki, are you a virgin? You don’t smell like one.”

“Uh, um, I don’t really know how to answer that. And… uh, is that something you can even smell?”

“It’s kinda fuzzy, you know? Like, the way you act is totally like a virgin, but your body doesn’t really give off that vibe. You’re a rare find.”

“Uh, could we please drop this? I really don’t understand, and, um, I’m not used to these kinds of crude conversations. If we could stick to something a little more appropriate, I’d appreciate it.”

“This is appropriate! Not doing this stuff is what’s inappropriate!”

“Um, I’m not really sure about all that…”

As Kiyoaki struggled to respond, more off-duty junior officers who had been lazing around nearby started gathering with mischievous grins, joining in to poke fun.

“What’s the matter, Officer Candidate Sakagami? You seem awfully flustered.”

“If these wild girls are causing you trouble, shall we toss them into the bushes?”

A group of rough-looking men, clearly the type who lived for the sky, approached. Smoking their rolled cigarettes and gripping bottles of brandy, they leaned in close to Kiyoaki.

“Uh, no, it’s fine. They’re just… teaching me some things…”

The junior officers ranged from their early twenties to late thirties. Being surrounded by men older than himself, all of whom had plenty of battlefield experience, made Kiyoaki feel like he had been dropped into a pirate crew, causing him to shrink back.

“They’re not wild; they’re just a little open-minded, that’s all. Anyway, Hamilton, I told you Illia and Kiyoaki aren’t dating. You happy now?”

Hamilton, a hulking man, nodded enthusiastically at Lulu’s words and turned his gaze toward Illia.

“Good to hear. Officer Candidate Illia Kreischmidt, I would gladly offer up every hole in my body for you. Please use them as you wish.”

“See, Illia? Isn’t that amazing? He’s offering his holes, not his life. Isn’t that fresh?”

“Uh… sure…”

Beside Hamilton, another hulking man, even hairier than the last, grinned down at Illia with a clueless expression.

“I would offer up my sack for Officer Candidate Illia Kreischmidt. It’s got plenty of uses.”

“Uh…”

Suddenly, a group of male junior officers gathered around Illia, sizing her up and trying to figure out if they could get away with flirting. Everyone was leering, and though their comments were crude, Kiyoaki and Illia couldn’t even begin to understand the slang they were using.

“Uh…”

Illia remained expressionless like a stone mask, only letting out occasional sighs in response. Leo, letting out a long sigh himself, stepped in to break up the group of junior officers.

“Enough.”

“Sir!”

The ruffians immediately straightened up and fell silent, though their faces still wore grins. Leo, still stern, continued.

“Illia will be your superior next year. You’d better keep that in mind when you’re trying to woo her. Keep pushing it, and you’ll face the consequences.”

In response to Leo’s warning, Hamilton puffed out his chest and replied with confidence.

“No worries, sir!”

“What do you mean, "no worries"?”

“With all due respect, Captain, I’m confident that within a year, I’ll have turned Officer Candidate Illia Kreischmidt into one of us!”

“Absolutely not.”

“No worries!”

“It’s not fine. Turning Illia into someone like you is not a good idea. For the love of all that’s holy, understand what I’m saying.”

“Yes, sir, no worries!”

“Listen, it’s really not okay. Illia, I’m sorry. These guys mean well, but… they’re just, uh… a little dumb.”

Maintaining her poker face, Illia nodded slightly.

“It’s fine. I didn’t understand a single thing anyone was saying, but I’ll try to learn going forward.”

“No, you don’t need to learn. If these guys approach you again, just run. If you get too close, they’ll drag you down to their level.”

Leo’s words made Lulu and Lala laugh even harder as they hugged Illia from both sides.

“If Illia becomes like us, life would be way more fun! Right, Illia? You want to be like us, don’t you?”

With a sincere expression, Illia nodded.

“I just want to catch up to everyone in terms of air combat skills as soon as possible.”

Hearing this, a bright wave of laughter erupted from the junior officers.

“Just a few more battles and you’ll surpass us in no time.”

“All you think about is flying, huh?”

“She’s amazing. At that age, all I thought about was women.”

“Even now, isn’t it?” “Well, now I think about men, too!”

“Ahahaha!”

“Jeez, you guys…”

The men, delighted by Illia’s praise, started roughhousing, tugging at each other’s cheeks, pinching noses, sticking fingers up noses, slapping foreheads, delivering backhand slaps, headbutting each other, and kicking sensitive areas.

“What the hell, man?”

“Hey, you’re the one who started it!”

“Don’t kick there!”

“Hey, watch your hands!”

“Captain, there’s a pervert here!”

Leo, watching this chaotic mess unfold, gave them a distant, resigned look before letting out another deep sigh.

“Knock it off.”

“Yes, sir!”

The ruckus abruptly ceased. Dishevelled and with blood trickling from their noses, the men straightened up and stood at attention with big grins on their faces.

“I get that you’ve got energy to burn, but… try to live a little more peacefully. You can’t just start brawling over every little thing.”

“Yes, sir! No worries!”

“It’s not "no worries." Get along. Follow the rules. And stop saying crude things to Illia and Sakagami. You’re not children anymore; at least try to act with some decorum.”

Just as Leo was about to continue his lecture, the sound of sirens blared from the distance.

Instantly, the junior officers’ faces lit up with excitement.

“Enemy incoming!”

With that shout, they all bolted from the waiting area toward their planes, racing each other to be the first to take off.

“Let’s go, Illia, Sakagami! First come, first served in the skies!”

Leo barked orders, and Illia and Kiyoaki scrambled to follow the junior officers, running full tilt.

Through the loudspeakers, the voice of the air command blared enemy details.

“Northwest direction, altitude 100 meters, twenty large bombers approaching! No sign of smaller planes, but stay alert!”

It appeared that a bombing squadron had taken off from Sierra Greed on Santos Island, across the great waterfall. It was likely a reconnaissance force sent by Urano to test the waters.

“Run, run!”

Leo shouted as Kiyoaki raced after the others, heart pounding. In the scramble to launch, there was no rank. Whether officer or junior officer, it didn’t matter—whoever got to an open plane first would be the one to take off.

The junior officers were in a frenzy of enthusiasm, sprinting full speed toward their planes. Just moments earlier, they had been lounging around, joking, but now they were charging like men possessed.

Kiyoaki pushed himself to keep up.

He knew he was seen as inexperienced, still green. But he had to get accustomed to real combat as soon as possible and prove his skill, or he’d never be able to command these wild men in battle.

Passing by a few who had been drinking at the waiting area, Kiyoaki managed to slip into an open Beo-Eagle fighter. The ground crew had already warmed up the engine, allowing him to quickly complete his pre-flight checks and start taxiing.

Following the ground crew’s signals, he rolled his plane into the take-off position. Five aircraft had already taken off, with Leo leading the formation ahead of him.

—This is my chance to see the legendary Sky King of St Vault in action.

This was Kiyoaki’s first time flying in combat since arriving at the squadron a month ago. He couldn’t wait to witness firsthand the skill of an officer who had earned the respect of these sky-hardened men. Trying to contain his excitement, Kiyoaki opened the throttle, following Leo into the sky.

The red soil runway receded below him as the windshield filled with nothing but blue sky. Glancing back, he saw that Illia had also won her “seat game” and was flying close behind with her wings spread wide.

Fifteen Beo-Eagles had taken off. Additional planes were being pulled out from the hangars by the ground crews, but it would take some time before they could join the fight.

At 700 meters, Leo began a wide, slow turn. The remaining 14 aircraft followed suit, communicating over the radio to form five groups of three. In the Voltec Air Squadron, these three-plane units were referred to as squads, and five squads made up a company. Leo was the company commander, and each squad leader acted as a unit commander.

“Sakagami and Illia, form up on my wings. Don’t stray from me, no matter what.”

Leo’s voice crackled through the speakers. Being selected to fly as his wingman left Kiyoaki elated.

“Yes, sir!”

“No solo manoeuvres. Don’t chase too far. Just focus on maintaining formation.”

“Yes, sir!”

Today was a test—Leo was giving them a chance to show their worth. The enemy had no fighter escorts, just large bombers, so this was a controlled opportunity to let Kiyoaki and Illia gain some combat experience. Grateful for the consideration, Kiyoaki glanced over to Illia, flying on his left. They exchanged a firm nod through the canopy.

Illia’s gaze was sharp and focused.

Going into combat meant killing the enemy, and of course, it also meant the possibility of being killed. Even though their task today was to guard Leo, letting their guard down for even a second could see them engulfed in flames and spiralling into the ocean. Tightening his grip on the controls, Kiyoaki locked onto Leo’s right wing.

The junior officers flying with them were all aces, each with at least five confirmed kills. This squadron was considered the best of the St Vault Air Force. Kiyoaki couldn’t afford to drag them down.

“Hey, Kiyoaki! Nice job getting airborne!”

“Don’t die, okay? Just wing it!”

Lulu and Lala’s playful voices echoed through the radio. Kiyoaki glanced to the left, spotting their three-plane squadron trailing him, with Lala waving from her cockpit. Their squad leader was Hamilton, the man who had earlier declared he’d turn Illia into one of them, with Lulu and Lala flying as his wingmen.

“Thanks, I’ll be careful!”

Kiyoaki waved back, then refocused on the mission ahead. Leo was climbing to 1,500 meters, scanning the surrounding airspace. They weren’t flying too high, likely because the enemy bombers preferred low-altitude approaches for better bombing accuracy.

“Hey, I see the enemy!”

Suddenly, Lulu’s voice, as carefree as ever, came over the speakers. Leo sounded less than amused.

“Where? I don’t see them.”

“Over there!”

“‘Over there’ doesn’t help. Lead the way.”

“Aye, aye, sir!”

Without waiting for orders, Lulu took the lead, accelerating northwest while the other 14 planes followed her. Ordinarily, Leo should have been at the front, but no one seemed to mind. Kiyoaki squinted ahead, trying to spot the enemy, but saw nothing.

—Are they really there?

He began to doubt if Lulu was joking, but still, he followed. Soon, they left Mauregan Island behind, with nothing but the vast blue sea stretching out below.

Clouds covered about 70% of the sky. Layered clouds and scattered clouds created patches of limited visibility, while the warm spring sun caused a light haze, further reducing the range of sight. Under these conditions, spotting the enemy would be quite difficult.

“There they are. Nice work, Lulu. You’ve got sharp eyes.”

Leo’s voice came through the speaker.

“…!?”

Kiyoaki strained his eyes to see below the horizon. The sky was thick with clouds, making it hard to spot anything.

“Thirty-five degrees to the left, altitude 100 meters. The enemy hasn’t noticed us.”

Following Leo’s direction, Kiyoaki turned his gaze.

But all he saw were clouds and atmospheric haze.

“Jude’s squad and Macguire’s squad, stay behind and watch the skies. There are probably enemy fighters hiding somewhere. The rest, follow me.”

“Aye, aye!”

“Roger that!”

“Got it!”

The exchanges between Leo and the junior officers were more like a pirate captain and his crew than professional fighter pilots. Rough, direct, yet maintaining strict discipline.

Two squads remained on high alert, while the other three began descending in altitude.

“We’re entering the clouds. Spread out the formation. Do not change speed or course, and we’ll exit the clouds in ten seconds.”

After giving his orders, Leo disappeared into the clouds. Kiyoaki and Illia, having yet to spot the enemy, followed instructions, widening the distance between them while trailing Leo from either side.

Raindrops slid across the windshield. Visibility was so poor that Kiyoaki could only just make out the lights on Leo’s wingtips. The enemy couldn’t see them, but neither could they see anything ahead.

—Will this really give us the advantage?

Doubt filled his mind, but the junior officers behind him followed Leo’s lead without question, flying confidently through the clouds.

Just as Leo had said, they flew through the clouds for only about ten seconds.

Suddenly, the sky opened up, revealing a vast blue ocean below, and there, flying low over the waves, were 20 massive Gorgona bombers, their enormous silhouettes laid bare before them.

“…!?”

The suddenness of the encounter caught both Kiyoaki and Illia off guard, but in that instant, Leo’s twin 20mm cannons tore into the right wing of a Gorgona bomber.

Flames spread across the windshield.

The Gorgona nosedived into the ocean, with Leo streaking above it in a flash.

Kiyoaki and Illia barely managed to follow from either side.

—How did Leo and Lulu spot the enemy? It was as if they could see through the clouds.

There wasn’t even time to be impressed. Kiyoaki had to pull up quickly as the ocean rose to meet him.

As he gained altitude, he glanced back at the trailing bombers.

Just as he looked, two Gorgonas at the rear burst into fireballs. It seemed that Hamilton’s squad, three planes with a total of six 20mm cannons, had managed to shoot down two bombers in quick succession. Explosions of ammunition stored in the bombers’ wings sent fireworks scattering in all directions.

“That’s incredible!”

He couldn’t help but shout. Was this really the work of the same reckless, drunken ruffians who had been fooling around just moments ago? The attack was as precise and calculated as a medieval cavalry charge.

“This is where the real fight begins. The element of surprise is over.”

Leo’s voice snapped Kiyoaki back to reality. Looking forward, he noticed that the formation had become disorganized.

“Y-yes, sir!”

“Don’t stay behind them and above. Use your speed to attack as you pass through.”

“Understood!”

Leo climbed to 700 meters, identified his next target, and swooped in.

The horizon tilted sharply, sunlight spinning through the cockpit as the plane banked hard. Kiyoaki gritted his teeth, fighting the centrifugal force, and followed Leo.

The remaining 17 Gorgonas huddled together.

Though they had been thrown into confusion, they quickly reformed into a combat formation. It seemed they had not yet given up on their bombing mission and were stubbornly flying toward Mauregan Island with their tails pointed toward Kiyoaki’s squad.

Leo increased his speed, heading straight for the tight Gorgona formation.

The 17-plane formation grew larger and larger as they approached.

The Gorgonas, known as aerial fortresses, had been a serious challenge when Kiyoaki had engaged them during the Eriadore airship mission. Each of the massive bombers was armed with thirteen 15mm machine gun turrets, giving them 26 guns in total. With 17 bombers, that meant they were now flying into a storm of 442 machine guns.

—This is insane.

Kiyoaki was stunned. Yet Leo pressed on without hesitation.

—Captain Leo said the goal of leadership was to bring his men back alive.

—Trust the captain.

Kiyoaki told himself that, just as the air around him exploded with tracer rounds.

“…!”

He had never experienced such concentrated fire before.

But Leo surged forward through the fiery deluge.

The sky itself seemed to be ablaze, everything engulfed in red.

Leo’s tail fin was no longer visible.

—Did he get hit?

For a split second, Kiyoaki felt heat through the canopy.

A giant fireball erupted right in front of him.

“…!?”

Kiyoaki had no idea what was happening.

He could only push the throttle as hard as he could. That was the only thing he could do.

Suddenly, the sky in front of him returned to clear blue. It was as if the flames and azure sky were flashing alternately across the windshield like frames of a movie. The situation was changing so rapidly that he couldn’t make sense of the battle.

Ahead of him, Leo’s plane calmly climbed into the sky.

“I got one.”

Leo’s voice came through the speakers, likely to reassure his team that he was unharmed.

Kiyoaki looked back.

Far below, the Gorgona formation was in chaos, flames erupting from several planes.

Leo had apparently fired on the Gorgonas as he passed overhead, setting three of them ablaze. They were now trying to veer off course while their planes burned.

But then, from behind, two more squadrons—six Beo-Eagle fighters—descended upon the remaining bombers. Despite the intense anti-aircraft fire, they broke through the barrage in an instant, setting four more bombers aflame.

Above them, more explosions filled the sky.

Fighter planes, engulfed in flames, spiralled downward, trailing long plumes of smoke.

At first, Kiyoaki thought they were friendlies, but no. The falling planes were all Urano fighters, the Type 3 Idra.

Looking up, he saw Jude’s and Macguire’s squadrons, who had stayed behind, now controlling the skies at 4,000 meters. They had skilfully spotted and eliminated the enemy Idra fighters hiding behind the clouds. Kiyoaki hadn’t even noticed the Idra’s presence—had Jude’s squad not provided cover, he might have been taken out by a surprise attack.

The remaining Gorgona bombers, left behind, abandoned their bombing run and began turning away. They dumped their bombs into the ocean to lighten their load and attempted to flee at high speed.

They had won. Kiyoaki wanted to pursue them. As if sensing his thoughts, Leo’s voice came over the speakers.

“Don’t chase them too far. Jude, Macguire, thanks for the assist. Drinks are on me when we get back.”

“Yay!” “Roger!” “We love you, Captain!”

The replies from the junior officers were carefree, without a trace of arrogance or excitement. As if they had simply completed another routine mission, they began their return.

—So this is the Voltec Air Squadron…!!

In just a few minutes of aerial combat, Kiyoaki had come to understand their prowess.

Despite the number of enemy planes, Leo had fulfilled his earlier promise—none of his men had fallen, and they had won the battle. This victory wasn’t just thanks to Leo’s skill, but also the unwavering trust and discipline of his junior officers.

Kiyoaki had no idea how many more battles it would take to reach their level. All he knew was that he was nowhere near it yet.

But.

—Learn. Learn as much as you can.

Kiyoaki stared at Leo’s plane flying ahead of him. One day, he wanted to lead his comrades with the same level of skill and confidence, bringing them back safely with victorious results. For now, he would treasure each experience, building up his knowledge little by little. The journey ahead was long, but he had no choice but to move forward, step by step. With this resolve, Kiyoaki followed the squadron back to Chandler Base’s third airfield.

That night—

On the beach, the pilots of the Voltec Air Squadron, about 140 strong, were celebrating their victory with a wild outdoor party. Alongside them were not just their female pilots but also girls brought from the nearby town. Music blared from the radio, and laughter and boasts about their battlefield feats filled the air, blending with the sound of the waves.

Was the sortie earlier in the day simply an excuse for this party? Such suspicions arose as the junior officers poured the same passion into their drinking and interactions with the opposite sex as they did into combat.

“Man, this is a great atmosphere! I thought frontline squadrons were all stiff and formal. This is the best,” Reiner said, standing beside Kiyoaki, holding a paper cup of beer and watching the squad members gathered around the fire. To the upbeat jazz flowing from the radio, they laughed, sang, and danced, clearly having a great time. Some, now quite drunk, had even stripped off their clothes and jumped into the sea for a swim. They seemed determined to enjoy the moment to the fullest, a release from their everyday lives lived on the edge. Beneath the moon, stars, and the glow of the bonfire, the celebration of the sky warriors showed no signs of ending.

“Come on, have a drink. If you can’t even drink, you’ll never fit in with the junior officers,” Reiner grinned as he handed Kiyoaki another paper cup.

“Uh… in the Akitsu Federation, you’re not supposed to drink until you’re an adult…,” Kiyoaki said, hesitating. He was turning nineteen next month, in June. In his homeland, underage drinking was punishable, so he was cautious.

“Maybe that’s the case in your country, but here in St Vault, anyone over eighteen can drink. So, it’s all good—go ahead and drink.”

“O-okay…”

Reiner was right. It wasn’t a problem here. Kiyoaki took his first sip of alcohol.

“Bitter.”

It tasted strange. He didn’t understand what was supposed to be enjoyable about it. His head began to feel a bit warm. Reiner, still wearing his usual carefree smile, turned to Illia, holding another paper cup.

“And you too, Illia. Drinking with the junior officers is important, you know? Think of it as practice.”

“…”

With a stiff expression, Illia accepted the beer.

“Looks like you’ve never had a drink before either. We’re not students anymore, you know? Even though we’re still candidates for junior officers, we’re proper adults now. There’s no problem—just drink up.”

Despite the pressure, Illia stared intently into the cup, unmoving. It was only after Reiner repeatedly urged her that she finally raised her eyes, looking troubled.

“… My father was an alcoholic… I’ve seen firsthand the effects alcohol can have on a person’s mind. So, to be honest… I’m afraid to drink this.”

Reiner shot a bewildered look at Kiyoaki. Concerned, Kiyoaki spoke up.

“Yeah, you shouldn’t force yourself. If you’re scared, it’s better not to drink.”

Reiner let out a strange laugh, shrugging his shoulders.

“Man, Illia can be surprisingly cautious. People become alcoholics because they can’t control themselves, right? But you’re fine—you’re so strict about self-control that nobody even asked you to be!”

“…”

“Look at everyone. They’ve thrown off their usual restraint and are having a great time. That’s how you’re supposed to drink. Drinking while sulking and dragging things out is the worst. But if you drink like they are, it’ll only strengthen the bond between you and your comrades.”

For once, Reiner’s words carried weight. Kiyoaki, feeling slightly more convinced, took a second sip of his beer. It was still bitter, and not particularly tasty, but somehow it seemed to ease a bit of the heaviness that had settled in his chest.

“… Yeah, I see your point, Reiner. But… when I think about my father’s blood running through my veins…”

“I’m telling you, it’s fine. Alcohol addiction isn’t hereditary. What you should focus on is your relationships with everyone. We’re officers now. If we can’t connect with our subordinates, we don’t have the right to lead them into battle.”

Finally, Illia’s gaze showed a hint of resolve. She nodded slightly, turning to Kiyoaki and Reiner with a determined look on her face.

“…You have a point. If drinking this helps foster smoother communication, then it’s worth trying. Besides, it’s just beer. As long as I can maintain control, there’s nothing to be afraid of. I vow—I will never lose myself to alcohol.”

She declared it as if reassuring herself. Kiyoaki clapped in response.

“Yeah, you’ll be fine, Illia. And even if you start feeling sick, we’ll be here to support you, so don’t worry!”

“Yeah, leave it to us. If you turn out to be a bad drunk, we’ll hold you back with everything we’ve got. We’ll keep a watchful eye, so you just focus on enjoying the drink!”

With her resolve finally set, Illia straightened her back and, as if preparing to fire on an enemy, took her first sip.

“So, how is it?”

Reiner asked cheerfully. Illia shook her head slightly and answered.

“It tastes as I expected. Nothing surprising.”

Reiner let out an exaggerated “Ooh,” and said, “But once you finish the whole cup, your thoughts might change.”

“Is that so? From just this?”

Emboldened by Reiner’s challenge, Illia quickly downed the entire cup in one go.

“There. Nothing to it.”

With a focused gaze, she met Reiner’s eyes. He grinned and walked over to the barrel by the fire, refilling her cup with more beer.

“Not bad. How about you, Kiyoaki? You can’t let Illia outdo you, right?”

“I’m fine. How are you feeling, Illia?”

“I feel no different. Honestly, I’m embarrassed that I ever feared something so trivial.”

Taking her refill from Reiner, Illia drank it as easily as if it were a soft drink.

Just then, Lulu and Lala came running over with playful shrieks.

“Wow, Illia’s drinking alcohol! So cute!”

They both latched onto Illia.

“Who knew Illia could drink? Sooo cute!”

Clearly intoxicated, Lulu and Lala clung to Illia, repeating how cute she was over and over.

Seeing this, the junior officers, who had been watching from a distance, came over with their drinks in hand and called out to Illia.

“Whoa, Candidate Kreischmidt’s drinking with us!”

“We thought an elite candidate like you would never join us for a drink!”

Illia was well-liked among the junior officers, but many had felt she was unapproachable. Now, seeing her share drinks around the same fire, they seemed genuinely happy.

Illia raised her cup seriously.

“Likewise. I was impressed by your skill in today’s battle. I hope to catch up to you all soon. Cheers.”

When she initiated the toast, the junior officers raised their drinks to the night sky.

“Cheers!”

A loud chorus rang out as everyone downed their drinks. Kiyoaki and Reiner, following Illia’s lead, emptied their cups as well.

“Illia, let’s dance with everyone! It’s sooo much fun!”

Lulu and Lala grabbed Illia’s hands and pulled her toward the fire.

“Dancing? I’ve never tried it.”

“We’ll teach you! But it’s easy—just let your body move to the music!”

“Please instruct me.”

Illia allowed herself to be led toward the fire, joining the circle of people dancing to the radio’s music.

“Come on, Candidate Kreischmidt!” “You’re gonna dance? Right this way!”

The dancing junior officers noticed her and clapped their hands in cheer.

“Illia, come on, like this!”

Lulu and Lala guided her, playfully forcing her into the dance.

“L-like this? I’m not sure…”

Though a bit awkward, Illia followed their steps. She seemed stiff, but she was managing just fine.

“You’re doing great! That’s it—just keep going with the flow!”

“Keep dancing, Illia!”

Lulu and Lala laughed as they spun around the fire. The junior officers cheered her on, singing loudly as they joyfully joined the dance.

“Have another drink, Candidate Kreischmidt!”

Noticing that Illia’s cup was empty, one of the junior officers handed her a fresh drink. Perhaps feeling thirsty from the dancing, Illia casually downed it, keeping up with Lulu and Lala.

From a short distance away, Kiyoaki watched Illia’s steps.

She must have been feeling warm, because at some point, she had taken off her military jacket, and now, like everyone else, she was down to a T-shirt, moving to the music. Her red hair fluttered in the night, illuminated by the orange glow of the fire, with sparks flickering around her.

—She looks like a fire fairy.

The thought crossed his mind. Perhaps it was the alcohol loosening his self-control, but he found himself mesmerized by her dance.

“Hey, don’t just stand there! Let’s dance too!” Reiner urged, snapping Kiyoaki out of his daze, and they both joined the circle.

Noticing him, Illia stepped closer, still dancing.

“How are you doing, Sakagami?”

She seemed to be in a much better mood than usual, and her forehead and cheeks looked red—probably from the firelight, Kiyoaki assumed. He smiled back.

“I’m having fun. Thanks to you.”

“Sometimes, this kind of thing isn’t bad. It feels freeing.”

“Yeah. You seem to be having fun too, Illia.”

“Come on. Let’s dance. If you don’t interact with the junior officers, you can’t be a proper officer.”

Illia extended her hand. Kiyoaki hesitated briefly but then took it, following her steps awkwardly. Seeing his clumsy footwork, Illia softened her expression.

“What’s that? You’re like a chicken. It’s like this, like this.”

She demonstrated the steps, moving her feet in time with the music, guiding Kiyoaki.

“L-like this?”

“Yes, just like that. Now, let’s go—keep up with me!”

Issuing commands as if she were on a battlefield, Illia led Kiyoaki into the dance circle.

—Illia’s in such a good mood.

Kiyoaki had never seen her like this. This was the most joyful he had ever seen her.

—Could she be drunk?

It was a possibility, but—

—This much should be fine.

She wasn’t bothering anyone, so it should be okay. Deciding that this was just the positive side of alcohol, Kiyoaki surrendered himself to the music.

The dance was simple—just stepping in time to the music, taking hands with your partner, and spinning around. It was easy enough, but just dancing hand in hand with Illia made Kiyoaki feel incredibly happy.

“Haha. You’re getting the hang of it, Sakagami,” Illia said, her back lit by the fire, smiling.

It was Illia’s smile—one Kiyoaki hadn’t seen in a long time.

It was a sweet, almost heart-wrenching smile.

“You’re great at this, Illia. You might have a talent for dancing.”

“Really? That makes me happy. It almost feels like we’re in a dreamland.”

Illia spoke with a shy smile.

—She’s… adorable…

Kiyoaki’s heart pounded in his chest. He barely managed to suppress the urge to hold Illia in his arms, quickly composing himself and keeping his expression neutral.

“Illia, are you okay? Are you a little tipsy?”

“Maybe… Yeah, I feel a bit more lightheaded than usual.”

“You should probably drink some water. I’ll go get some.”

Kiyoaki stopped dancing and looked around. Just then, Lala approached him.

“Oh? Are you done already? The night’s just getting started!”

“Uh, Lala, do you have any water? Illia’s starting to feel the effects of the alcohol.”

“Oh, water? Give me a sec!”

Lala quickly disappeared behind the crowd and returned with a large bottle in hand.

“Here you go! Is Illia getting tipsy? She should rest somewhere quiet. Kiyoaki, you take her there, okay?” she said with a mischievous wink, patting him on the back and pointing to a quieter part of the beach. The sandy shore stretched far into the distance, and the spot she indicated was away from the bonfire’s light. Kiyoaki figured a quiet place would be perfect for sobering up, so he took the bottle from Lala, thanking her.

“Thanks. Illia, let’s go rest over there.”

Illia nodded obediently and took a long swig from the bottle.

“This is delicious. I didn’t know water could taste this good.”

She let out a satisfied sigh, almost like she’d just drunk alcohol, and murmured in amazement. In good spirits, she followed Kiyoaki to a quieter area of the beach.

“The night sea is nice,” Illia remarked.

“Yeah, the night breeze feels great,” Kiyoaki agreed.

The sounds of music and chatter faded behind them, and the calm of the night began to envelop them both.

Illia took another gulp from the bottle, wiped her mouth with her arm, and looked up at the sky.

“The stars are beautiful.”

The bonfire had shrunk into a tiny speck in the distance, leaving the beach illuminated only by the moon and stars.

“You’re right. It’s amazing. It’s been a while since I’ve seen stars like this.”

A vast Milky Way spilled gold, silver, blue, and yellow light down toward them. Listening to the sound of the waves and gazing at the stars, Kiyoaki felt as though they were in a paradise far removed from the war.

“Do you remember that time we broke through enemy lines in Eriadore? The stars were incredible then, too,” Illia said with a fond smile.

“Of course. The Etica meteor shower. It was like the stars were rushing toward us. I miss that.”

It had been a surreal sight. He and Illia had watched from the cockpit as thousands of stars showered down on the Eriadore airship, streaming past them as they flew above the clouds.

“It hasn’t even been two years since then, but it feels like a lifetime ago.”

“Yeah… A lot’s happened since.”

As they walked side by side along the beach, a wave of nostalgia washed over them.

It had been a year and nine months since that adventure on the Eriadore airship, when they first met. They had transferred to the Air Hunt Academy, honed their skills in mock air battles, witnessed the destruction of Air Hunt Island, and said goodbye to Mio… All those memories came flooding back to Kiyoaki, leaving only the pain behind.

“Yeah… It’s hard to believe it’s been less than two years.”

“Yeah… And there’s probably a lot more ahead of us.”

“Let’s hope there are more happy times, not sad ones.”

“Yeah… I hope so.”

They fell silent for a while, the sound of the waves gently lapping at the shore the only noise.

Then, Illia glanced at Kiyoaki’s profile and hesitated before speaking.

“Sakagami…”

“Yeah?”

“Well… It’s just…”

“What is it?”

Illia seemed to be pondering something, then shook her head and looked straight ahead again.

“…Sorry. Never mind.”

Kiyoaki felt deflated.

“Hey, it’s okay. Don’t be shy. You can tell me anything.”

“…No, it’s nothing. It seems the alcohol’s affecting me more than I thought. Don’t worry about it—it’s just nonsense.”

Even as Kiyoaki gently urged her to speak, Illia didn’t say anything more. Watching her rigid expression, Kiyoaki wondered if she was thinking about Mio, and in that moment, he decided not to push further.

He had never talked about Mio when he was alone with Illia. Neither of them had been able to come to terms with the events involving her, and it was a difficult topic to broach. Illia had always been careful not to mention Mio’s name in front of Kiyoaki since then.

“I’m acting strange. I need to sober up quickly.”

Trying to shake it off, Illia took another long gulp from the bottle. Kiyoaki forced a smile.

“Yeah, they say drinking a lot of water helps dilute the alcohol in your system.”

“That’s good. My head’s been spinning for a while now. I’ll just keep drinking water.”

With that, she gripped the bottle with both hands, closed her eyes, and gulped down more of its contents.

“I really like the smell of the sea breeze. It’s comforting,” Kiyoaki said, trying to lift the mood. He stretched his arms toward the sky, letting out a long yawn. Illia, standing beside him, mimicked his actions, stretching her arms toward the stars.

“It feels like I could scoop up the stars with my hands.”

“Yeah. It’d be nice if we could reach them.”

“Do you think we’ll ever be able to travel to the stars?”

“With the way aircraft technology is advancing, I’m sure we will someday.”

“That sounds wonderful. I wish we could use planes for things like that instead of for war.”

“Yeah, I agree. Using them for fighting… it just feels wrong.”

Illia was standing so close that their shoulders brushed. A gentle breeze passed between them, lifting Illia’s hair and softly caressing Kiyoaki’s ear.

She smelled like spring flowers, a scent mingled with the salty sea air, and it tightened something deep inside Kiyoaki’s chest.

— I want to hold her.

The urge he had been fighting all night surged up again. Blaming the alcohol, Kiyoaki clenched his fists and forced himself to suppress his desires.

“How are you feeling now? Any better?” he asked, trying to sound casual.

Illia sighed deeply, almost in frustration.

“I might be feeling worse… My head is spinning.”

“Yeah, alcohol can hit harder after a while. I know you’ve been drinking a lot of water, but it’s still not helping?”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure…”

Illia had been drinking a considerable amount of water, but her condition hadn’t improved at all. In fact, the more she drank, the wobblier she got. Her cheeks were flushed, and her words started to lose their sharpness. Something didn’t feel right. As she gulped down more from the bottle, her steps became unsteady, and Kiyoaki noticed that her expression seemed off.

“Illia, let me see that bottle for a second.”

“Hm? Why?”

Illia tilted her head, smiling sweetly, almost childishly.

“Just let me check. I need to make sure of something.”

He grabbed the bottle from her hand, took a swig, and immediately spat it out.

“This is wine! It tastes like grapes!”

“What? It’s not water?”

“There’s no way this is water! Have you been drinking this the whole time? Lala, what were you thinking? You can’t do that!”

Wine is easy to drink, but poor-quality wine can lead to bad hangovers. There was no way Lala would have given Illia expensive wine—this was definitely a cheap one meant to cause drunkenness. Illia had apparently been too drunk to even tell the difference between water and wine when Lala handed her the bottle.

“Really? I did think it was a little sweet for water…”

Illia giggled softly. Her words had become slurred, and Kiyoaki was horrified to see that the one-litre bottle was nearly empty. Illia must have been drunk even while they were dancing, and now, with this much cheap wine in her system…

“The stars have multiplied.”

Illia suddenly shouted, raising her hands to the sky, and before Kiyoaki could react, she ran toward the sea.

“Wait, wait, wait! Illia, don’t go into the water!”

Panicking, Kiyoaki ran after her, but Illia was already knee-deep in the ocean, gleefully splashing water with both hands.

“This feels great! Let’s swim, Sakagami!”

“No! You can’t swim when you’re drunk! It’s dangerous!”

Illia kicked at the waves, playfully splashing water at him.

“Illia, stop messing around!”

He tried to reason with her, but Illia, now too intoxicated to listen, just laughed and waded in deeper, splashing more water at him.

“Illia, okay, I get it. Please come back. If you go in any further, it’ll be really dangerous.”

If this kept up, she would definitely drown. Kiyoaki himself stepped into the water up to his waist, cautiously approaching her as if trying to coax a wild animal.

“Why not? Why can’t we swim?”

“Because you’ll drown! Please, Illia, I’ll do whatever you want, just come back, okay?”

Illia’s mischievous smile widened as she lowered her hands from the water.

“You’ll do anything I say?”

“Yeah, yes, anything.”

“Do you swear it?”

“I swear. I’ll do whatever you ask.”

“Then… I’ve got an idea!” Illia beamed, spreading her arms wide like a child.

“Give me a piggyback ride!”

“A p-piggyback ride?”

“Yeah! A piggyback ride!”

Apparently, Illia became childlike when she got drunk. She was now acting like a kid, eagerly asking for a piggyback ride.

Though taken aback at first, Kiyoaki figured it was better than letting her drown.

“Alright, I’ll give you a piggyback ride! Come on, hop on!”

He turned his back to her and bent down. The next moment, something incredibly soft pressed against the nape of his neck.

“Yay! A piggyback ride!”

Illia’s breath tickled his ear as she clung to him, her slender arms wrapping around his chest. Kiyoaki could feel her ample chest pressing against his back. He reached around to support her knees as he lifted her up.

“A piggyback ride makes me so happy.”

Illia clung to Kiyoaki, pressing her feminine warmth and softness against him without holding back. Feeling her warmth and the softness of her body across his back, Kiyoaki fought to maintain control over his instincts, using every ounce of restraint he had as he trudged through the sand, kicking up the waves as he returned to the shore.

“I’m not getting down yet. Keep walking!”

“Yes, yes, I’ll keep walking.”

He couldn’t let the junior officers see Illia in this state. They would mock her endlessly, and in her current defenceless state, there was no telling what might happen. It was best to stay like this until she sobered up.

“I love piggyback rides… It’s been a long time since I had one…”

Illia whispered in his ear, her voice filled with a childlike sweetness. Instinctively knowing it was best not to argue with a drunk person, Kiyoaki responded casually.

“Did your mother give you piggyback rides?”

“No, not my mother. Just once, my father did.”

“Really? Karsten did? That’s surprising.”

“Yeah. When I was little. I was training to fly, and I fell off the wing and got hurt. My father gave me a piggyback ride all the way home.”

Illia spoke with a nostalgic, slurred voice, recalling the memory fondly.

“That must have made you really happy.”

“Yeah, just that once. My father carried me on his back with one arm. His back was so big, so warm…”

“Sounds like Karsten was kind to you.”

“I wanted him to carry me forever, but we reached home too quickly. I was really sad when it ended. I wished he would carry me forever…”

Illia’s voice grew melancholic. It seemed that might have been the only time her father had shown her such tenderness. She clung to Kiyoaki even more tightly, as if seeking the comfort she remembered from her childhood.

Kiyoaki could feel Illia’s loneliness and sorrow radiating through her embrace on his back.

“Maybe Karsten wanted to carry you forever too,” Kiyoaki said softly.

“You think so? I wonder what my father was feeling…”

“He was worried about you. Carrying you with one arm must have been tough, but he did it all the way home.”

“Do you think so…? I hope you’re right.”

“I’m sure of it. He wouldn’t have done that unless he cared about you.”

Illia gently pressed her cheek against Kiyoaki’s hair, rubbing her face affectionately. He could feel the soft warmth of her lips through his hair, and his heart raced even faster.

“I don’t want to get down yet.”

Kiyoaki, too, didn’t want to let go. If he could, he would carry Illia on his back for as long as his strength allowed.

“I’ll carry you as long as you want.”

“…Thank you… Sakagami, you’re so kind.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Kind, even though you’re a Black Rabbit. You’re always kind.”

Kiyoaki laughed, “I haven’t been teasing you recently, have I?”

“You have. You always tease me. You provoke me on purpose just to see me get mad, don’t you?”

Illia tugged on his cheeks, making him smile wider.

“I do not! I do not!”

They both laughed as they continued walking along the long, quiet beach, guided only by the blue moonlight and the thousands of stars.

The rowdy noise from the junior officers had completely faded, leaving only the gentle sound of waves lapping at the shore. It was just the two of them now, alone with the sea and the night.

— This is happiness…

Kiyoaki felt a deep sense of contentment. He imagined walking with Illia like this, reaching an island without war, and living together in peace…

“Hey, Sakagami.”

His daydream was interrupted by Illia’s soft voice.

“Yeah?”

“I’m not sure if I should say this… but, can I?”

“Of course. You can tell me anything.”

“It might be a bit… meddlesome, though.”

“That’s fine. I don’t mind if it’s from you.”

“Okay then… Well…”

Even after hesitating, Illia finally spoke.

“It’s about Mio. There’s something I haven’t told you.”

Kiyoaki’s heart almost stopped at the mention of Mio’s name. Just hearing it from Illia made his pulse quicken.

“Yeah?”

He tried to keep his voice calm and natural.

“Remember after she came back from winter break? She started avoiding everyone… and one night, when she was sharing the bunk with me… I told you she was crying, right?”

“Yeah. You told me about that.”

Illia had once shared that she had witnessed Mio sobbing quietly in their shared room at the Air Hunt Officer Academy. But it seemed there was something more Illia hadn’t mentioned.

“And… well… this might be hard to hear, but… I’ve been debating whether to tell you…”

“It’s okay. Please tell me. I need to know.”

“Okay… so, the thing is…”

After a brief pause, Illia whispered the words.

“Mio… she was calling your name.”

“…What?”

“In her sleep. She called your name, over and over, sounding like she was in pain.”

A warm breeze blew past them, stirring up the waves, which lapped at Kiyoaki’s feet.

“…Sometimes, she would mumble apologies in her sleep. She was apologizing to you.”

Kiyoaki turned his face toward the sea. The stars crowded together above him, their reflection in the water forming a stream of silver tears. Somewhere beyond that horizon, he imagined Mio, still crying.

“So… the words she said to you when she left… those weren’t her true feelings. I believe Mio didn’t mean any of it.”

That day on Air Hunt Island, when it was burning, Mio had stood on the rocky cliffs and hurled cruel words at Kiyoaki before leaving him.

There was no way to ask her what she truly felt now.

But still…

“…I see. Mio… said my name…”

That simple truth washed away much of the frustration that had been festering inside him.

Mio had held him in her heart, somewhere deep within.

The knowledge of that simple fact brought him an immense sense of relief.

“Mio was… such a kind person. She was always going above and beyond to help everyone before the winter break. But after her family forced her into becoming a spy… she had no choice but to act like a villain and erase herself from our lives. I think… that’s why.”

Illia’s words resonated deeply with Kiyoaki’s soul.

“Yeah… that sounds like something Mio would do.”

“So… you weren’t deceived by her. Mio cared about you deeply… I’m sure she still does.”

“Do you think so? I hope you’re right.”

“I know it’s presumptuous of me to say, but… I think Mio was just too kind… She always put others before herself, and she didn’t value her own happiness enough…”

“Yeah… It feels like you understand Mio better than I do. Even though I’ve known her for longer.”

“It’s just a feeling. But before the winter break, we used to talk late into the night sometimes. I think I got to know a little bit about how she thought.”

“Thank you for telling me, Illia. Really… thank you.”

“You’re welcome. As a reward… keep giving me that piggyback ride.”

“Sure. I’m happy to.”

Without speaking further, the two of them continued walking along the beach, just feeling each other’s presence.

Before long, Kiyoaki heard the soft sound of Illia’s breathing near his temple.

She had fallen asleep, exhausted from the alcohol. Kiyoaki smiled and, careful not to wake her, continued to walk along the moonlit and starlit shore.

As they walked, memories of Mio came and went, as if carried on the wind.

"Forget everything. Every word I’ve ever said to you was a lie. I’m a liar."

He remembered that morning of the mock air battle with Illia, when he had found Mio sitting alone on a bench, eating her breakfast. He had hugged her tightly, demanding to know why she was pushing him away. That’s when Mio had spoken those words, crying as she did.

"I can’t fight without you."

Kiyoaki had told her that through his own tears.

"I’d do anything for you."

Back then, he had meant it with all his heart. He would have burned the entire world down for her if it had been necessary.

Now, that deep resolve stirred within him once again, transforming into a new sense of courage.

— I won’t let it end like this.

— I’ll find Mio. No matter what it takes.

— I swear it on my life.

"To end this war, I will crush Urano."

It was a dream too large for his fourteen-year-old self.

"Let me share that dream with you," Mio had said, standing beside him as they both gazed at the ruins of their homeland.

Kiyoaki now added a new layer of determination to that old promise.

— I will destroy Urano to bring you back.

He would destroy Urano, not as some vague dream or distant hope, but as the purpose to which he would dedicate his life. Every moment from now on would be devoted to that singular goal: to end Urano and bring Mio back.

— I will never forgive Urano for what they did to you.

No matter how enormous the enemy, no matter how far they were, no matter how small and insignificant he might seem in comparison, he would make it happen one day.

“I will bring you back.”

Kiyoaki spoke those words aloud, with all the strength he could muster, into the vast, star-filled sky.

Illia slowly opened her eyes.

At some point, she had fallen asleep.

She glanced up at the moonlight and starlight and realized she was being carried on Kiyoaki’s back.

Her head was tingling. The effects of the alcohol were causing thoughts that she usually kept buried to surface one after another.

—But it’s fine. Just for now.

She attributed this rare freedom to the alcohol, allowing her to accept it.

Still pretending to be asleep, Illia let her hand slip down from Kiyoaki’s shoulder, clasping it in front of his chest.

Then, through her own hair, she pressed her cheek against his, gently tightening her grip on him with her arms and legs.

It felt as if she were embracing him from behind.

—Don’t let go.

That was the thought that crossed her mind.

—I want to stay like this forever…

If she were sober, she would have immediately dismissed such a thought. But in this moment, Illia didn’t resist her own feelings.

—Don’t leave me.

The wish welled up from deep inside her heart. She didn’t know why. There was no reason for it. But she wanted to ask the Kiyoaki who was carrying her right now to stay by her side.

—Don’t go anywhere.

—Stay close to me, always.

A sense of longing began to stir inside her, as if she knew, with absolute certainty, that Kiyoaki would disappear from her life.

Still pretending to sleep, Illia clung tighter to him.

—I want to be with you forever.

She listened to the soft voice of her own heart without resisting. For some reason, tears threatened to well up. Illia told herself that her thoughts were only confused because of the alcohol.

Part 3 What would I do if I were born an incompetent fool, yet somehow found myself riding a wave of good fortune, moving up the ranks, only to have a talented, sharp-witted, and physically appealing subordinate come along and threaten my position?

I’m clearly incapable and foolish. There’s no way I could defeat such a capable and brilliant junior. However, I also need to survive in this workplace. The only thing someone as useless, dumb, and plain-looking as myself could do is band together with others of similar ineptitude and sabotage the talented one. In doing so, I’d attempt to drive them out.

That’s likely why they’ve done this.

Against someone as talented as myself.

These incompetent fools, banding together.

—Truly, a pitiful lot.

Balthazar Grim, Second Lieutenant, found himself explaining to his superior why the report he had painstakingly compiled over the course of a week had been altered and submitted by someone else. As he defended himself, he couldn’t help but pity his colleagues.

Such a childish ploy.

Yet, he couldn’t afford to underestimate the dark tenacity of ordinary fools. These idiots, driven by desperation, would surely continue to harass someone as talented as him. The key here was not to stoop to their level, but to maintain the trust of his direct superior.

After listening to Balthazar’s explanation, Colonel Andy Bott, Head of the South-eastern Seas Operations Bureau of the St Vault Navy Air Force, gave him his usual thoughtful gaze.

“It seems the altered sections match what you’ve identified.”

Comparing the original data submitted by Balthazar with the tampered report, Colonel Andy let out a deep sigh.

“…This is serious. To think such a childish scheme could occur within the Operations Command. This isn’t a grade school. This is supposed to be where St Vault’s finest minds gather. The person responsible clearly doesn’t understand the gravity of what they’re doing—how thousands of lives are at stake with each decision made here.”

Colonel Andy, who was usually calm and composed, struggled to hide his anger.

—Even if the subordinates are fools, having a competent superior is a blessing.

It had been the same during last summer’s Judeka Operation. Back then, Balthazar had been just a trainee, but the report he submitted was handed over to the bureau chief without any mocking laughter from Colonel Andy, who had been a lieutenant colonel at the time. After the destruction of Air Hunt Island, Andy had also ensured that Balthazar’s accomplishments were reported to the command without attempting to take credit for them himself.

“I also share some of the blame for not double-checking the final version. I was careless.”

Instead of bad-mouthing the fools to his superior, Balthazar apologized for his own carelessness. It would make him appear more mature.

Without looking at Balthazar, Colonel Andy continued to scowl at the report.

“…You’re not only competent but seem to adapt your behaviour depending on whom you’re dealing with. Be careful. That sort of nature will only increase the number of unnecessary enemies.”

It sounded like advice, though Balthazar didn’t fully grasp its meaning. Dismissing it as the usual lecture superiors were prone to give, he replied casually.

“Understood. I appreciate your guidance.”

“You probably don’t, but…this is an unprecedented situation. We’ll need to find out who’s responsible. I wonder if the members of this bureau even realize how dire the war situation is.”

With a final deep sigh, Colonel Andy looked up at Balthazar again.

“…I sympathize with you. The success of the Judeka Operation was too great. The Operations Command itself has been inquiring about you. On top of that, you win too much in wargames. I’m not saying you should intentionally lose, but your victories are so thorough that they’ve stirred up quite a bit of resentment. Routinely crushing your seniors in encirclement and annihilation tactics will naturally make enemies.”

The “wargames” were a tactical simulation exercise promoted by the St Vault Operations Command. Two players acted as opposing commanders, moving pieces representing military units across a model battlefield. When units engaged, dice rolls determined the outcome, with factors like terrain, weather, and supply lines affecting the results. Though complicated and difficult for most to enjoy casually, the wargames were an essential tool for simulating actual military operations.

Balthazar had repeatedly annihilated veteran staff officers in these simulations without mercy. His ruthless victories shattered their pride, leaving many with nothing but resentment toward him as they left the simulation board.

“If an experienced staff officer is defeated by a novice who has never set foot on a real battlefield, it’s natural for there to be lingering resentment…But this is worse than I expected. This situation could tear this workplace apart.”

“Understood.”

After Balthazar’s curt reply, Colonel Andy stared at the ceiling in contemplation before softening his tone.

“…I have a strange question for you. Do you have any friends?”

The question took Balthazar by surprise.

“Not particularly.”

“What about your comrades from the Eriadore? The seven of you…or six now, I suppose. Any contact with them?”

Balthazar almost laughed out loud. In interviews with newspapers and magazines, he would emphasize their bonds, but that was simply for appearances. He had never considered them his companions.

Truly, not even once.

“Occasionally, they visit me.”

Not wanting to appear too detached from others, he lied.

“I heard Lieutenant Kagura from the Voltec Air Squadron recently paid you a visit.”

He knows everything. Kagura had mentioned asking the Operations Command for Balthazar’s address, so it was no surprise that Colonel Andy was aware of the visit.

“Yes, just some idle conversation.”

“…I see. Friends from the academy are invaluable. You should cherish them.”

“Understood. I appreciate your advice.”

“You’re exceptionally talented. It’s inevitable that you’ll be envied and stand out. But your behaviour could also use some improvement. Learning the nuances of human emotions comes from maintaining relationships, especially friendships.”

Colonel Andy spoke as if lecturing a wayward student.

—He’s a capable superior, but his tendency to lecture is tiresome.

Keeping his irritation in check, Balthazar maintained his composed demeanour as he responded.

“Thank you for your advice.”

Colonel Andy glanced through the corrected report before shifting the conversation back to work.

“As for your report… It seems likely that two aerial fortresses are stationed around Santos Island?”

“Yes. There’s a slight discrepancy, but it appears that a different call sign, distinct from the Uranos fleet, is mixed in. This suggests the presence of the aerial fortresses.”

“Balsinos and Kalkinos?”

“Most likely. It’s unsettling that the remaining two aerial fortresses have left no trace.”

Current intelligence suggested that four Uranos aerial fortresses had been dispatched to the South-eastern Seas. Balsinos and Kalkinos had been spotted frequently, but the other two had yet to make any appearance.

“We can’t avoid confronting those two. It would be helpful to gather more intelligence on their ground defences, but the Operations Command won’t wait. We need to uncover everything about Balsinos and Kalkinos, and the key to that is information from Santos Island…but even contacting our agents there has been difficult.”

Santos Island, separated by the Great Falls from Mauregan Island, was the stronghold of Uranos and the Hydrabard coalition forces. It was a fortified bastion awaiting the St Vault military, and the next decisive battle would likely take place over the falls between the two islands. Understanding the full scope of the enemy’s defences was crucial, but the island’s formidable intelligence network had kept everything shrouded in mystery.

Colonel Andy finished reading the report and looked up at Balthazar.

“…This is a solid report. As always, excellent work. I’ll bring this up in tomorrow’s meeting. Good job.”

“Thank you.”

“I’d like you to continue monitoring communications intelligence around Santos Island. But I also have another task for you.”

“Understood.”

Balthazar straightened his back, ready to accept what was likely a troublesome assignment, but one that was worth taking on, especially since it came directly from his superior. A task like this could be a stepping stone for future promotions.

“You’re aware that several former retainers of the Sylvania royal family are in exile within the St Vault Empire?”

“Yes.”

Seven years ago, the Sylvania royal family, rulers of Santos Island, had been wiped out by an attack from Uranos. Though the royal family perished, some of their loyal retainers survived and scattered across the world, working quietly in hopes of one day restoring their kingdom.

Colonel Andy continued, “I want you to gather information about them. One of the more notable figures is Princess Colette, the sister of the Sylvania king, who married into the St Vault Empire. Her husband is a senior official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so getting too close could backfire. Then there’s Akmed of the Valkyrie, who’s currently fighting Uranos in the Vestelant Continent, but it’ll be hard to contact him. Aside from Colette and Akmed, we need to find any other key former retainers and bring them to our side. Do you think you can manage that?”

This was a low-priority task, essentially a side job. It wasn’t risky and wouldn’t result in losses if it failed, but it was worth pursuing in case useful allies were found. Without hesitation, Balthazar responded.

“I don’t believe it will be too difficult. If we go through official channels and seek an audience with Princess Colette, she could potentially connect us with the others.”

Colonel Andy, however, cautioned, “It might not be that simple. For some reason, Colette has been reluctant to discuss anything related to the Sylvania royal family. We suspect there are things she doesn’t want to reveal. Your goal is to gather as much information as you can. If you can successfully gain her trust, that would be ideal.”

Balthazar paused for a moment before speaking thoughtfully.

“Could it have something to do with Princess Elizabeth’s whereabouts?”

“Possibly. It’s rumoured that she died during the fall of Sylvania, but her body was never found. There’s a chance she might have survived. It’s mostly gossip and rumours, but we can’t completely rule out the possibility.”

Princess Elizabeth Sylvania, the lost royal of a fallen kingdom, had become a favorited figure in popular stories. According to myth, she survived the fall of her kingdom and, along with the remnants of the Sylvania court, continued to resist Uranos in secret. Plays and stories depicting her as a tragic heroine were widely circulated, but now it seemed Balthazar would need to investigate if there was any truth to these tales.

“Understood. I’ll begin gathering information on Colette and the rest of the Sylvania loyalists. I’ll start by solidifying our external contacts before approaching the Princess directly.”

“I’ll leave it to you. These exiles will be crucial once we secure Santos Island and need to gain the trust of the local population. There’s no immediate urgency, but keep me informed weekly on your progress.”

“Understood. I’ll do my best.”

After saluting and receiving Colonel Andy’s approval to leave, Balthazar exited the office. He returned to his desk on the third floor, already considering how to approach the new assignment and planning the steps he would take to gather the necessary intelligence.

──The Lost Princess Elizabeth.

That phrase seemed to cling stubbornly to his mind. His current mission was to locate the former loyalists and bring them over to his side. However, if he were to find Princess Elizabeth, gain her favour, and make her an ally, then there would be no need to search for the other loyalists—they would come to him on their knees.

──If only she were alive.

──She would be incredibly useful.

As these thoughts occupied his mind, a local staff member brought in some mail.

“Lieutenant Grimm, a letter for you. It’s from a lady.”

“Huh?”

“Your girlfriend?”

The staffer joked as they handed him an envelope. Without returning the smile, Balthazar glanced at the sender’s name with a grim expression.

It was from Cecil. He let out a sigh.

“Just what I needed, right now…”

He had no interest in reading it, but there was a chance it might contain something important, so he reluctantly opened it and skimmed the contents.

“Cecil here. How have you been? I thought about not sending this to you, but since I’m writing to everyone else, I figured I should include you too. You probably won’t read this anyway.”

That was how it began. He already lost interest. The letter was filled with trivial details about Cecil’s life at the Selfaust Officer Academy—things Balthazar couldn’t care less about. Half-heartedly skimming through the letter, he reached the final part.

“Take care, and who knows? I’m doing well in my studies, so if I graduate, I might even get into the Operations Command. If that happens, I’ll be counting on you.”

Finished with the letter, he stuffed it back into the envelope and tossed it into the trash. There was no need to write a response. However, Colonel Andy’s words echoed in his mind.

“You need to learn the subtleties of human emotions. Building friendships is a good place to start.”

All the letters sent to and from officers were checked for content. This one had undoubtedly been read before it reached him, and his decision to respond—or not—would probably be noted.

──Perhaps it’s better to at least pretend to maintain friendly relations…

With a sigh, Balthazar retrieved the letter from the trash and reluctantly began drafting a response. He didn’t know how to write such a letter, but he figured it didn’t really matter with Cecil. He scribbled something down quickly.

“If you ever get into Operations Command, I’ll make sure you’re assigned to cleaning toilets. Your enemy won’t be Urano, it’ll be the stains on the toilets.”

Satisfied, he imagined Cecil turning red with rage, yelling like a monkey. The thought of her frustration lightened his mood. It wasn’t that he particularly hated her—it was just that something about Cecil made him want to mess with her.

He handed the letter to the staff member for mailing and returned to his work.

──Cecil is irrelevant. Whether she lives or dies, it doesn’t matter.

──The issue at hand is Princess Elizabeth. If only there were some way to find out if she’s still alive.

──If she’s out there, I would use every bit of my charm and skill to win her over…

With his refined looks, conversational skills honed at countless social events, and the charisma he had spent years cultivating, Balthazar could easily win over Princess Elizabeth. If he succeeded, the rewards would be immense.

──I need to rise quickly through the ranks and free myself from the burden of dealing with imbeciles.

Keeping these thoughts to himself, Balthazar considered his next steps. To get close to someone as high-ranking as Colette, the Sylvania princess married into St Vault, he would need a proper introduction from someone in her inner circle. Fortunately, Balthazar had connections with several high-ranking bureaucrats from the central ministries, thanks to his position as one of the “Seven of Eriadore.”

──First, I’ll send greetings to some of those contacts.

──Through them, I’ll get close to Colette’s husband.

──Once I have that connection, I can approach Colette herself and gather the information I need about the former loyalists.

It was a straightforward plan, though somewhat tedious. Still, it seemed the most effective path forward. With that, Balthazar immediately began drafting letters to the influential bureaucrats he knew. The letters were meticulously crafted, beginning with seasonal pleasantries, followed by compliments on the recipient’s recent work. He subtly mentioned his own accomplishments, including his success in the Judeka operation, before finally requesting a meeting.

These letters were vastly different from the one he had written to Cecil—polished, courteous, and professional. Each sentence was carefully worded to convey both respect and intelligence. As he wrote, Balthazar reflected on what Colonel Andy had said about changing one’s behaviour depending on the person.

──Of course. Why would I waste the same energy on Cecil as I would on someone important?

Everyone has limited time and energy each day. It only made sense to use those resources efficiently. To Cecil, he gave scorn; to the bureaucrats, he extended the utmost respect. It was a logical, practical approach to dealing with people.

──I hope this effort leads me to Princess Elizabeth.

After finishing the letters, Balthazar had them mailed. He stared out the window, thinking. If the princess were alive, he would go all out to win her over, bring her into his fold, and ensure his rise in the military. Then, he could finally leave behind the menial work and trivial annoyances that plagued him at his current station.

──The Lost Princess Elizabeth.

The weight of that name clung to her thoughts, refusing to leave her mind. Cecil Hauer, who was once known as Elizabeth of Sylvania, found herself at the heart of this unresolved legacy. If she could reunite with the remnants of the royal loyalists, and rise to the throne once more, they would kneel before her without hesitation.

But for now, Elizabeth was Cecil. And in the quiet of the self-study room at the Selfaust Officer Academy, where the cold bit at her nose, she had to focus on the here and now.

Ah-choo!

She sneezed, rubbing her nose as she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the window.

“It’s freezing…” she muttered to herself, shaking off the chill and returning to her studies.

It was 9:30 p.m., and she had the entire library to herself. For five hours each night, from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., Cecil dedicated herself to her studies without fail. This routine was more than just habit—it was a necessity. She had entered the academy as a transfer student halfway through her third year, and since then, she had never relinquished her spot at the top of the class.

Even before the fall of the Air Hunt Officer Academy, she had been skilled academically. But after that tragic event, Cecil pushed herself harder than ever. Her studies spanned the theories of warfare from the greatest military strategists—past, present, and future. From mechanized warfare and air strategies to deep operations and logistical theories, she immersed herself in the advanced science of war, proposing potential national policies based on those future possibilities.

The paper she was currently drafting was titled, “The Possibility of Mechanized Forces Crossing the Unlon Mountains.” Her hypothesis was that the Harmonia Empire might bypass the heavily defended Kukuana Line by sending its cutting-edge mechanized divisions through the Unlon mountain range, potentially via Zunjin. The range itself consisted of towering, 3,000-meter peaks, a wild, untamed region separating the borders of Zunjin and the St Vault Empire. While it was an intriguing concept, Cecil’s professor had deemed it unrealistic, but she was determined to prove her theory with logical support through meticulous research.

She had to excel, far beyond her peers.

──Because I am one of the Seven of Eriadore.

While her comrades from the Air Hunt Academy had graduated and gone on to prestigious roles—four had joined the Voltec Air Squadron, and Balthazar had been placed in Operations Command—Cecil was determined not to be left behind.

──I want to be with them again.

Her desire to join her friends, to be part of that close-knit group once more, fuelled her every effort. She clung to the hope of being assigned to their unit upon graduation. To achieve that, she had to maintain her standing and prove her worth.

──I’ll work hard, and next year, we’ll all be together again…

Cecil poured her feelings into her studies, scribbling away. When fatigue crept in, she stood up to stretch, took a sip of coffee from her thermos, and slapped her cheeks to chase away the drowsiness. Every bit of effort made her feel like she was one step closer to her comrades on the battlefield.

At 1:20 a.m., Cecil finally left the library and made her way back to the student dormitories. As she walked along the gas-lit streets, she gazed up at the misty night sky over the imperial capital of Selfaust.

The faint stars, dimmed by the haze of the city, reminded her of someone no longer there.

──I wonder how Mio is doing…

It had been nearly nine months since she had last seen her. Yet, Mio never left her thoughts. She had been someone kind and gentle, someone Cecil had adored. They had shared much—both having lost their families at a young age. Mio had taught her how to cook, laughed at her silly jokes, and always treated her with warmth.

──We’ll meet again someday, won’t we, Mio?

Cecil spoke silently to the stars, imagining Mio looking up at the same sky from somewhere far away. She couldn’t believe Mio had truly betrayed them of her own free will. Someone must have forced her hand; otherwise, Mio’s sudden change in behaviour upon returning from her trip home made no sense. Cecil was convinced that guilt over betraying her friends had driven Mio to distance herself.

──It can’t be a final goodbye.

She believed firmly that they would meet again one day.

The Selfaust Academy wasn’t as vast as Air Hunt, so it didn’t take long to reach her dorm. Once inside, she found her five roommates already sound asleep. As she approached her desk, she noticed a letter waiting for her.

“Oh!”

Delighted, she snatched it up, but upon seeing the sender’s name, she recoiled in surprise.

“F-from the captain!?”

A letter from Balthazar. Of all people.

Cecil had written to Kiyoaki, Reiner, Illia, and Kagura, and received replies from each of them. But she hadn’t expected Balthazar to respond. She had hesitated to write to him at all, thinking he wouldn’t care and wouldn’t bother replying. Still, out of a sense of obligation to the bond they had shared in Eriadore, she had sent him a letter with little expectation of hearing back.

Yet here it was—a response from Balthazar.

“Maybe he’s kind after all…”

Cecil had always thought of him as cold, arrogant, condescending, and a narcissist who looked down on others. But now, feeling a warmth spread through her chest, she was on the verge of tears. She opened the letter with trembling hands, read the words within—and then hurled it against the wall.

“What is wrong with this guy!?”

She couldn’t stop herself from screaming. Toilet cleaning? Fighting the stains on the toilets? Why would anyone write such a thing in a reply? She would’ve preferred to be ignored than to read this mockery.

Fuelled by anger, she almost ripped the letter apart. But just before she did, she paused.

“…I’ll keep it.”

Her instincts told her it might come in handy one day. Instead of destroying it, she would hold onto it and, when the time came, she would use it against Balthazar. The day he needed a favour, she would pull this letter from her pocket and shove it in his face. She would make him squirm, and throw his words back at him tenfold.

Smiling coldly at the thought, Cecil carefully tucked the letter away. As she did, her eyes landed on the return address:

Mauregan Island, Chandler District.

In that instant, her memory ignited with the vision of a burning palace, buried deep within her mind.

Her father’s face, as he gripped her hand and commanded her to survive.

“Please, Akmed. Take her and flee. The bloodline of Sylvania must endure. It will become the hope that will one day destroy Uranos. The light of hope.”

Akmed, kneeling before the king, accepting the command with a long, dark cape billowing behind him, even as his heart screamed for the right to die beside his king.

“The wings of Sylvania shall last for eternity.”

Akmed had vowed with blood and honour, before taking Elizabeth—now Cecil—and escaping into the night sky, through the hell that had descended upon them, and eventually, to Mauregan Island.

Cecil Hauer was the name given to her by her aunt, Colette Avery, as a means of hiding her true identity. Only a handful of people, Akmed and a few others, knew that Princess Elizabeth was still alive. This secret would remain buried until Cecil turned twenty.

She would be eighteen in December. In two years’ time, on her twentieth birthday, she would have to make a decision.

Would she carry on her father’s legacy and revive the Sylvania royal family?

Or would she abandon her birthright and live as a commoner?

There were only two choices.

“Sigh…”

Every time she thought about it, she couldn’t help but sigh.

──My stomach hurts…

A dull ache settled deep within her, as if a heavy stone had taken root inside. The burden she bore, without ever having asked for it, was immense.

What would she choose in two years’ time? As she looked within herself for answers, one thought surfaced clearly.

──I just want to be normal…

That was her honest feeling. It wasn’t that she wasn’t angered by the fall of her family. But the idea of standing at the forefront of a movement to restore the royal family didn’t resonate with her. She had no desire to lead others into battle for such a cause.

It wasn’t fear or laziness.

It was the knowledge that such an Endeavor would only lead to more lives being lost. Should they attempt to revive the royal family on Santos Island, they would inevitably face Uranos in battle. How could the restoration of a monarchy be worth so many lives?

──I couldn’t bear being responsible for people dying…

──I just want to live a normal life…

Looking at her reflection in the window, Cecil reaffirmed her thoughts.

If the upcoming battle was victorious, the St Vault Army would begin its campaign to retake Santos Island. She might one day stand on that soil again. Would that change her outlook?

──I don’t know. I don’t know, but…

──I hate the idea of people dying…

Her eyes, devoid of strength, gazed at her reflection.

The only thing she truly desired was for the seven friends who had shared that oath to reunite, to fly together again, and to laugh like they once did. Nothing else held much interest for her.

Cecil had lived as a princess, surrounded by people who served her for most of her life. The six friends she made at the Air Hunt Academy were her first true companions, not as a princess but as a person. To her, they were her most precious treasure, and for them, she would give everything.

Part 4

“Once you see idiots every day, you get used to them. After a while, you stop being surprised by how stupid they are. You become numb to it.”

Repeating Leo Rosenmuller’s tired words, Kiyoaki thought aloud.

“Numb to idiots…”

He then looked out at the raucous chaos on the beach, where the Voltec squad’s enlisted soldiers were carrying on with what had become their nightly debauchery.

Indeed, it was true. He was no longer shocked by the drunken men and women, tangled in an orgy of behaviour that would once have made him want to look away. Now, it barely moved him. “Ah, here comes the butt again. Oh, another strip show? And now headbutts, too, huh. Sure, why not?”

“I thought I was growing enough that this stuff wouldn’t faze me anymore.”

“No, that’s not growth. Your senses are just dulling. If you let yourself get used to their ways, it’ll be tough to go back to normal life. Be careful.”

“Thank you for the warning. Still… it seems like they’re having fun. That’s a good thing.”

“… Yeah, I guess. No one knows if they’ll make it back alive after tomorrow’s mission. Tonight might be the last time this group can gather and raise hell like this. I understand why they’d want to let loose.”

Leo sighed, but even as he looked out at the soldiers raising hell on the beach, his eyes showed deep affection for them.

The roster for tomorrow’s operation had been posted that afternoon.

Though they weren’t told the details, it was clear from the fact that 45 elite soldiers out of the 140-strong Voltec Air Squadron were listed that it was going to be a large-scale mission.

It was likely that tomorrow would be the long-awaited fleet battle over the Great Waterfall. They’d inevitably face Uranos’ flying fortresses, “Kalkinos” and “Balsinos,” and they’d need to be ready for heavy casualties.

This gathering on the beach was meant to serve as a sort of “pre-war party,” and so the entire Voltec squad had come together, drinking and carousing as usual, only more intense than before.

“Don’t drink too much, you guys! We’ve got a big job tomorrow!”

Leo called out to them, but the enlisted men only laughed and raised their bottles in response. The party before their eyes was clearly more important to them than tomorrow’s mission.

Kiyoaki smiled and gazed up at the summer night sky. He was growing used to the mood of the Voltec Squadron. The scent of the sea breeze, the warmth of the bonfires, the laughter, the shouts, and the stink of alcohol—these things had started to feel almost comfortable to him.

It felt like… a big family.

That thought filled Kiyoaki’s heart with warmth.

He’d gotten to know the faces and names of each of the enlisted soldiers, and as his relationships with them deepened, he’d learned about their personal situations. He was beginning to feel a deeper bond with them, not just as rough-and-ready airmen but as individuals.

For example, Sebastian, who was currently chasing a female soldier down by the water’s edge, was sending money back to his bedridden mother. Leon, who was drinking whiskey straight from the bottle and shouting curses at his comrades, had joined the war to buy back the ranch his family had lost to corrupt dealers. Jude was here to afford his sick brother’s hospital bills, Hamilton was trying to clear his family’s shoe business debts, MacGuire, a former drifter, wanted a place of his own, and Lulu and Lala were fighting to support the orphanage that had raised them. Almost everyone had been driven here by financial desperation, and they were here to make a living in the only way they could—through war.

The root cause of their poverty was war itself.

Governments spent too much on military power, leaving social services underfunded. The poor had no access to education, no jobs, not even a place to live, and many were left to die in the streets. While the officer candidates came from families well-off enough to afford their education, the enlisted men, despite their abilities, had been denied access to a proper education due to their financial circumstances, leaving them as “disposable pawns” within the military. Yet, there was nothing degrading about them. They had taken their circumstances and, through sheer will, had made the most of every day. In Kiyoaki’s eyes, their resilience shone bright.

They were incredible people.

He meant it. In contrast, Kiyoaki reflected on his own habit of brooding, and he resolved to live each day as brightly and cheerfully as they did.

It was already July.

He had been stationed here for three months now and had flown dozens of sorties, enough to grow used to real combat. Though he wasn’t yet leading a squadron, he was no longer holding anyone back during air battles.

So far, Kiyoaki had confirmed six kills in combat, while Illia had claimed eight. These were remarkable records for officer candidates, and the public relations office, eager to promote “The Six of Eriadore,” had begun circulating news of their accomplishments far and wide. As their kill counts grew, the enlisted men also started to recognize the abilities of Kiyoaki, Illia, Kagura, and Reiner. They no longer dismissed them as “school-bred rookies.”

Officially, Kiyoaki and the others were “officer candidates,” but in reality…

They felt more like… new comrades.

That’s the sensation that seemed closer to the truth. Over time, new companions had come into their lives, mingling with the ones they’d had before. But every time someone new came, the memory of those who were gone faded just a little more.

A sharp pain pierced through Kiyoaki’s chest.

It hurt so much it almost made him cry out.

Mio…

He clung to the name of the person who was no longer there. He was afraid that if he didn’t, she might disappear from his heart completely.

“Are you okay, Kiyoaki? Do you feel sick?”

Kagura, standing beside him, gave him a concerned look. Kiyoaki shook his head and forced a smile.

“No, I’m fine. I’m okay.”

“Alright. But you know, tomorrow’s going to be the real deal. If you’re feeling unwell, it’s better to rest.”

“I’m okay. This is an important night… But what about Illia? Is she not coming again today?”

When he asked, Kagura gave a troubled smile.

“Who knows… Every time I invite her to the victory parties, she runs off. Looks like she’s still not over it.”

“Yeah… It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

Kiyoaki glanced toward the women’s barracks with a worried expression. Ever since that night in May, when she first drank, Illia had been avoiding the beach parties altogether. She was still clearly mortified by the scene she’d made while drunk.

Thinking back on it now…

After carrying the drunken Illia on his back and confirming that she’d fallen asleep, Kiyoaki had taken her back to her quarters. The next day, when they met up as usual for morning duty, Kiyoaki had greeted her with a casual “Good morning,” and Illia’s face had immediately turned bright red like a tomato. She had marched right up to him and snapped:

“You—You drunk! You’re far too drunk, you—! Drunk!”

Not understanding what she meant, Kiyoaki had simply stared, confused, as Illia’s face flushed an even deeper shade of red. With a face on the verge of tears, she had yelled at him even louder.

“You probably don’t even remember, do you! That’s right, of course you wouldn’t! You were so drunk, saying all kinds of weird things!”

Still clueless, Kiyoaki had stood there, mouth agape, until finally, Illia’s frustration boiled over, and she shouted at him with trembling determination.

“Your memories from last night are all just your own delusions! I didn’t do anything strange at all, you drunk!”

It was clear from her awkward speech and the rehearsed sound of her words that Illia had gone over these lines many times in her head before delivering them. At last, Kiyoaki understood what she was trying to do. Bowing his head in defeat, he offered her a kindly, patronizing smile, as though she were a child.

“Yeah… you’re right. You’re absolutely right. I was so drunk last night that I don’t remember anything.”

At that, Illia’s expression stiffened in defiance, and she leaned back, chest puffed out.

“Right! Of course! So remember, whatever happened last night… it was all your imagination, you drunk!”

And with that, she had decreed the matter settled.

At that moment, a mischievous urge had bubbled up within Kiyoaki. Unable to resist, he had said:

“Yeah, you’re right. I mean, I could have sworn you begged me to give you a piggyback ride, but I must’ve imagined that too, huh?”

“That was your imagination!”

Illia, nearly in tears by this point, had slapped Kiyoaki across the face and then bolted from the room. He hadn’t expected her to run, so he had hurried after her, apologizing profusely and assuring her that everything was just his drunken delusions until she finally calmed down. But ever since, Illia had refused to attend the parties on the beach.

And now, back in the present…

Kagura sighed as she voiced her concerns.

“Normally, missing a silly little party wouldn’t be a big deal, but tonight’s important. It’s to boost morale and strengthen bonds, and there’s no guarantee we’ll all be together like this again. Illia really should be here.”

“She just has to stay away from the alcohol… I guess that night in May really hit her hard. But no one here cares at all, even if she was a little wild.”

“Yeah, if anything, the enlisted guys are hoping she’ll get drunk again. Makes her more approachable, apparently. But Illia’s pride probably won’t let her drink after that…”

“Well, don’t worry! I brought Illia with me!”

A light-hearted voice chimed in suddenly from the side, and when Kiyoaki turned, he saw Reiner grinning like a fool, while Illia stood there with a stiff expression.

Kiyoaki’s face lit up with a big smile.

“Illia! I’m so glad you came!”

Illia glared at Kiyoaki, her expression full of resolve, and declared:

“I’m not drinking a single drop of alcohol! I can socialize with everyone just fine without it!”

Judging from her attitude, it seemed Reiner had talked her into coming. Grateful for Reiner’s silver tongue, Kiyoaki leaned forward to welcome Illia warmly.

“Yeah, yeah, that’s fine! You don’t need to drink! There’s soda, right? Soda’s good, isn’t it?”

“I’ll drink that!”

“Alright, got it! Here’s your soda, Illia!”

With quick hands, Reiner handed Illia a drink, and she downed it in one gulp.

“Mm, this is just fine!”

Illia declared triumphantly, puffing out her chest. The moment the enlisted men noticed that Illia had arrived, they raised their hands and rushed over, cheering and shouting in excitement. They had been eagerly waiting for her to join the party, and now that she was here, they were ecstatic.

Kiyoaki raised his voice to remind them:

“Hey, Illia’s not drinking any alcohol! She’s only having water or juice!”

“Got it!” “No booze for Princess Kreischmidt!” “Here you go, Your Highness, some grape juice!”

MacGuire handed her a cup, but before Illia could take it, Kiyoaki snatched the bottle, took a sip, and spat it out.

“This is wine! Come on, guys, no more of this kind of prank, okay?”

“Man, these guys really are the worst. Here, Illia, have some soda.”

Reiner sighed as he handed Illia another drink. She took it and downed it just as quickly as the last.

“Yeah, this is no problem at all!”

Her declaration drew cheers from the group.

“I want some of that, too!” “Reiner, pass me some!” “I’ll take some of that!”

Lulu and Lala joined in, grabbing cups from Reiner and laughing together as they drank.

“Carbonated water is delicious!”

“Carbonated water is the best!”

“Your Highness, bottoms up!”

Watching the lively interaction, Kiyoaki noticed that Illia’s cheeks had started to turn red. He couldn’t understand why. Surely, Reiner wouldn’t have tricked her by handing her beer instead of sparkling water, right?

“Illia, sorry, can I have a sip of your drink?”

Worried, Kiyoaki grabbed the drink from Illia’s hand, the one that was supposed to be sparkling water, took a sip, and immediately spat it out.

“This is beer! Reiner, why are you doing this too!?”

“Because it’s funny!”

“It’s not funny! Poor Illia! Illia, that’s beer! You shouldn’t drink it!”

He shouted, but it was too late. Illia, now supported by Lulu and Lala on both sides, had already started dancing to the radio’s music. Kiyoaki slumped his shoulders in defeat.

“Ah… it’s happening again…”

“Well, it’s fine, right? Everyone’s having fun. And Illia will come to terms with it sooner or later. She can’t even tell the difference between beer and carbonated water, so she must be a natural-born drinker. Just like her dad.”

“I’m the one who’s going to get slapped for this tomorrow when she accuses me of something… I’m in for it…”

Kiyoaki muttered as he watched Illia dance. Her cheeks were already flushed bright red, and she seemed to be having a great time. At this rate, she’d probably accept more drinks from the enlisted soldiers, and end up revealing another new side of herself.

“But maybe it’s okay…”

That thought crossed his mind. Illia was always so tense, so it was probably good for her to relax like this once in a while. There was no guarantee they’d still be here to party after tomorrow’s big battle. So, for now, it was best to enjoy this moment with all their hearts. That desire, to seize this fleeting moment, seemed to flow through the circle of dancers gathered around the fire.

Under the brilliant night sky, as laughter and cheer swelled around the fire, Kiyoaki watched Illia dance. As he did, a faint emotion began to rise from deep within his consciousness, spreading through his body to its very edges.

“Let’s dance too! I’m starting to feel the fun!”

“Yeah, I’ll join in too.”

Prompted by Reiner and Kagura, Kiyoaki joined the dancing circle. Most of the enlisted men were already completely drunk, their faces flushed red as they laughed loudly. They easily slung their arms around Kiyoaki and Reiner’s shoulders, reeking of alcohol, and pulled them into the chaotic dance with clumsy steps.

“W-wait a minute, you’re being too rough…!”

Kiyoaki laughed as he was pulled into the rowdy dance, which was less dancing and more like everyone bumping into each other. The tension and excitement for tomorrow’s battle was being reflected in the wild dance, which seemed like it would never end.

Suddenly, someone threw themselves against Kiyoaki from the side, grabbing him around the shoulders and shouting into his ear.

“Saaaakaaaagaaaamiiii! You okay?!”

“I-Illia… Are you alright?”

Illia, clearly drunk, grinned at him like a child and bumped her head against his temple.

“Drink this!”

Before he could respond, she grabbed the back of his head with one hand, shoved a bottle into his mouth, and tipped it straight up at a sharp angle.

“Bu-bu-bu-bubghh!”

Kiyoaki choked as cheap wine was forcibly poured down his throat. Illia giggled and roughly yanked the bottle out of his mouth, taking a huge swig herself before gulping down the rest with reckless abandon. As Reiner had said, it seemed like her father’s drinking habits had fully manifested in her. Kiyoaki could already tell that in an hour, she’d probably regress into a childlike state again and demand another piggyback ride.

It didn’t even take an hour for his fear to come true.

“Saaaakaaaagaaaamiiii…”

In a childlike voice, Illia whispered into Kiyoaki’s ear as he walked along the deserted beach, carrying her on his back.

“What is it?”

He responded as he trudged along, his feet sinking into the sand.

“Nothing… just wanted to call your name…”

Mumbling like she was half-asleep; she tightened her arms around Kiyoaki’s shoulders and pressed herself closer to him.

In the distance, the sounds of the enlisted men’s wild party and the music still echoed faintly. The light from the bonfires didn’t reach where Kiyoaki and Illia were, leaving them alone in the darkness under the stars.

“So this is who Illia really is…”

Kiyoaki thought to himself, realizing something deeply. Despite the strict military training she’d undergone since childhood, despite being raised to behave like a disciplined soldier, deep inside her, she was a bright, playful, and affectionate girl. It seemed that a little alcohol had brought that side of her out into the open.

“That one time her father carried her on his back must have made her really happy.”

That thought filled him with a bittersweet feeling. Kiyoaki adjusted Illia on his back and continued to walk slowly along the beach.

Her warmth, her softness, and her sweet scent reached him through his back.

An overwhelming sense of happiness welled up inside him, impossible to suppress.

“Illia…”

He called her name, though not out loud. His heart raced uncontrollably, filled with warmth and joy, and he found himself wanting to stay like this forever.

Kiyoaki looked up at the starry sky.

In the stars, he saw Mio’s smiling face.

The happiness he’d felt was quickly replaced by pain.

It was as if his heart was breaking, and guilt oozed out like invisible blood.

Mio…

She had always been by his side since they were children. After the destruction of Messus Island, after losing his family, Mio had been the closest person to him. They had attended the same officer academy together, and had chased the same dream of destroying Uranos. They had been so close that he hadn’t even realized how important she was. Ever since that farewell on Air Hunt Island, there had been a gaping hole in his chest, and he had felt nothing but emptiness.

And now, that hole was starting to fill, little by little.

“The warmth coming from my back is what fills the emptiness.

The closer Illia gets, the further Mio drifts away.

The person who is close to me now, and the person who has gone far away, somewhere unknown.

Even though I want to cling to Mio, I can’t talk to her, I can’t hold her hand. All I can do is draw her image repeatedly in my mind, hoping her memory doesn’t fade.

In the meantime, the warmth from my back gently seeps into my heart. The softness I can feel, the words we exchange, all add weight to the presence of the one here with me.

The feelings I once believed would never change are being altered by time and distance, without me even realizing it.

What a terrible person I must be…

I’m scared of my own heart.

I look out at the night sea.

If I crossed this ocean, over the great waterfall, to the uncharted waters where no one has ever ventured, would I find Mio there?

Mio, where are you now?

What are you doing?

I want to see you. I want to talk to you. I want to hold your hand…

Kiyoaki prayed again, to the stars, repeating the same wish he had made hundreds of times. He needed to cling to the past and keep pushing himself forward, or else he feared that Mio would disappear from his heart altogether.

If I chase Uranos, I’ll meet Mio.

One day, if I reach Pleiades, I’ll definitely see her again.

Just as always, Kiyoaki consoled himself with those thoughts as he walked on, carrying Illia on his back. The waves washed over his feet, and he could hear Illia’s soft breathing in his ear.

The next day—

“You… you drank way too much…”

The moment Illia saw Kiyoaki at the pilots’ waiting area, she spoke up. Her tone was sharp at first, but it quickly softened, and her words trailed off, as if she couldn’t bear the guilt gnawing at her conscience.

Kiyoaki gave a wry smile and replied, “Yeah, I’m sorry. I drank too much. I don’t remember anything.”

“I… I see. Yeah… That’s right…”

Illia’s face turned bright red as she mumbled, her words unclear. She clearly wanted to pretend that last night’s embarrassing display was just Kiyoaki’s imagination, but it seemed that after two incidents, she couldn’t fully commit to her usual arrogance.

“You were fine, Illia. Really, nothing weird happened.”

Trying to comfort her, Kiyoaki said, “You didn’t do anything strange.”

Illia, her face a mix of awkwardness, embarrassment, and stubbornness, replied, “Y-yeah… Nothing strange happened… It was all your imagination…”

“Right, I drank too much. Let’s forget about it and focus on today. It’s an important day.”

“…Yeah… I know.”

“Why don’t you take a seat? It looks like more people will be coming.”

“…Okay.”

Kiyoaki gestured toward an empty chair, and Illia obediently sat down.

“Are you feeling alright?”

“…Yeah. I’m fine.”

“That’s good. We’ll probably have to cross the great waterfall, so you should save your strength.”

“…Yeah. Sakagami.”

“Hmm?”

Illia, her face still bright red, leaned closer and whispered just loud enough for Kiyoaki to hear.

“…Sorry.”

“…?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Like a bird’s gentle chirp, Illia softly apologized, her face buried in her hands, red with embarrassment.

It seemed like she was apologizing for making him carry her. Kiyoaki couldn’t help but smile wryly.

“I didn’t mind. It was fun for me.”

“…I won’t ever ask for that again… I’m really… sorry…”

“It’s fine. No one cares. Besides, we need to focus. Today’s mission is life or death. There’s no time to think about anything else.”

“…Yeah… I’ll focus.”

Regaining a little of her composure, Illia lifted her head.

In the waiting area, dozens of Voltec Squadron pilots had already gathered. They were all chatting and joking around, waiting for the briefing on today’s operation. It seemed that since early this morning, senior officers above the rank of battalion commander had been gathering at the Chandler Fortress command post for a long strategy meeting. The expressions on the gathered pilots’ faces were all filled with excitement, knowing they were about to participate in a large-scale operation. The rumours circulating suggested that it would be the largest offensive since the Hydrabard War began. The main fleet of the St Vault Navy had converged at the Chandler Naval Port, ready and waiting for the order to set sail.

At that moment, the commander of Voltec Squadron, Colonel Abraham Monroe, entered the waiting area, accompanied by two aviation staff officers, Major Leo, and three battalion commanders. The chatter in the room instantly fell silent as the enlisted pilots, whose names were on the flight roster, turned their attention to Colonel Monroe.

One of the aviation staff officers began to speak.

“Everyone, you’ve endured well up to this point. Today, the St Vault Navy will muster its full strength to take down the Uranos flying fortress, Kalkinos.”

A thunderous cheer erupted in the waiting area. Some raised their fists and roared, others bumped their biceps together in celebration, while others, still seated, turned their burning gazes towards the commander. Each expressed their fighting spirit in their own way.

At long last, they had the chance to confront the flying fortress that had destroyed Air Hunt Island last summer. The fleet, newly formed three years ago with half a year’s worth of national budget, had never seen combat and had been sunk at Air Hunt Port. Today was the day they would finally avenge it.

The staff officer pinned the operation map to the blackboard and began the briefing with a pointer.

“According to intelligence collected by our reconnaissance department, the flying fortress Kalkinos and the enemy’s main fleet are currently gathered near Sierra Greed on Santos Island, preparing to advance into the northern island sea. We have no reason to wait for them to come to us. This time, we will strike first. The objective of this operation is to annihilate the enemy fleet and capture Kalkinos.”

The staff officer paused for a moment, surveying the room.

“As soon as our fleet crosses the great waterfall, the Akitsu Federation will begin their assault on the other flying fortress, Balsinos, near the coast of Odessa on Messus Island. Our allied forces will strike the Hydrabard Allied Fleet from both east and west. This will prevent the Hydrabard fleet from concentrating their forces, limiting their support for the Uranos flying fortresses. During this window, both our forces and our allies will land on and seize control of the two detested fortresses.”

The scale of the operation was far greater than expected. It was clear that this would be a decisive battle between the Hydrabard-Uranos Alliance and the St Vault-Akitsu Federation. Without a doubt, the victor in today’s battle would become the dominant force in the archipelago.

“The Voltec Air Squadron will now transfer to the aircraft carriers Raven and Hydelund and be incorporated into their carrier air wings. First and second squadrons will be stationed on Raven, while the third squadron will be on Hydelund.”

Another pause. The pilots in the waiting area all held their breath, eagerly anticipating whether today’s mission would be air cover or direct ground assault. The staff officer, after building suspense, raised his voice.

“Your mission is to secure air superiority over the enemy flying fortress. You know this already, but without air superiority, there can be no landing. The outcome of this battle depends on all of you!”

The enlisted pilots’ faces lit up with excitement. It wasn’t some dull escort mission—they had been entrusted with air superiority. And not just any air superiority—today’s target was the Uranos flying fortress. They would have to secure the skies over a fortress bristling with weapons and defend against the elite fighter squadrons of Uranos. This was the battlefield that would decide the course of the entire battle. As pilots, it was impossible not to feel their blood boil with anticipation. Everyone was eager, ready to take to the skies and face the enemy.

Finally, the commander of the Voltec Squadron, Colonel Monroe, stepped forward to speak.”

“Operation code name: Thundersteel. The future of the Empire rests on today’s battle. Whether the Empire’s thousand-year history returns to ashes or the next thousand years shine with glory, your efforts today will decide that. All forces, become the steel thunder, and deliver the hammer of justice upon Uranos. That is all. Launch!”

A thunderous roar of approval rose from the pilots as everyone jumped from their chairs. They rushed out of the waiting area, following their battalion commanders in formation, making their way to their prepared aircraft.

Kiyoaki ran alongside them, his blood boiling with pride. Even though he was just a cadet officer, he had been chosen for this mission, and he was determined to live up to those expectations.

The mechanics were already warming up the engines in the line-up. The Voltec Squadron’s aircraft were marked with white, red, and blue stripes on their tails. Kiyoaki’s personal aircraft, a Beoeagle, bore the number “45” on its fuselage. He exchanged a few words with the familiar mechanic, listened to the final instructions, and then jumped onto the wing.

“Go on! Snatch that flying island out of the sky!”

“Come back alive! I’m looking forward to hearing all about it!”

The mechanics shouted encouragements as Kiyoaki climbed into the cockpit. They too had a deep attachment to this machine, having worked on it day in and day out, covered in grease. Their wish for him to shoot down as many enemy planes as possible and return safely was almost tangible in the sound of the roaring engine.

After confirming that the controls were responsive, Kiyoaki stuck his head out of the cockpit.

“Leave it to me! I’ll come back—victorious!”

He shouted, signalling with his right hand for the chocks to be removed.

“Spin the inertia!”

The mechanic cranked the handle, and Kiyoaki connected the engine shaft to the inertia path mechanism.

“Ignition!”

The engine roared to life. After receiving the paperwork confirming that the aircraft had no mechanical issues, Kiyoaki signed and acknowledged it. The mechanic jumped down from the wing, and Kiyoaki began taxiing toward the take-off position.

Ahead of him, he could see the tail of the flight leader’s aircraft—his squadron commander for today’s mission. A voice came through the speaker.

“Stay calm. Never go off on your own. Stay with me at all times.”

Kiyoaki smiled and gripped the mic.

“Yes, I won’t stray from you, Kagura.”

“Good. Illia, too. Let’s do our best today.”

“Yes, I’ll keep in formation with the three of us.”

Kagura, their flight leader, was clearly nervous—it was her first time commanding a squadron. Kiyoaki and Illia were her wingmen for today’s mission.

Then another voice came through the speaker, this time it was their battalion commander, Leo.

“First Squadron, after assembling in the air, we’ll transfer to the carrier Raven. The battlefield is still ahead, so take it easy for now.”

Leo seemed concerned about the pilots getting too worked up. Immediately, responses from the enlisted pilots came through the speakers.

“Roger that!”

“Just talking nonsense here!”

“Captain, marry me when we get back!”

The last one was probably Lulu. Mixed in was a light-hearted reply from Reiner, who had been assigned to Macguire’s squadron. Praying for his friends’ safety, Kiyoaki followed Kagura. The fifteen planes of the First Squadron began taking off in sequence, their propellers roaring as they headed for the designated assembly point.

In this operation, three-plane formations made up a squadron, and three squadrons formed a battalion. Leo, the battalion commander, was circling at 2,000 meters, waiting for all the planes to take off.

Kagura took her position for take-off. The three of them would take off simultaneously. Her voice came through the speaker, a bit tense.

“Let’s go. Don’t get too worked up.”

“Right. Let’s relax and stay focused.”

Suppressing his rising excitement, Kiyoaki replied. Kagura increased speed, and with Kiyoaki and Illia flanking her on either side, all three took off successfully.

“Alright, it’s like a leisurely hike. We’ll all make it to that flying island and return together.”

With all forty-five aircraft of the Voltec Squadron airborne, Leo’s relaxed tone came through the speaker as he gracefully turned his wings toward their destination. The formation spread out, and they settled into cruising speed. The silhouette of Mauregan Island quickly disappeared behind them, leaving only the blue ocean and sky, with the formation of planes flying in unison.

Let’s all come back together.

Repeating Leo’s words in his mind, Kiyoaki flew alongside Kagura, protecting her left flank as they soared through the calm summer sky. Beyond the towering cumulonimbus clouds on the horizon lay the great waterfall. Today’s decisive battle would likely take place near it…

Part 5

“In less than an hour, what had been a world of only blue was now filled with the silhouettes of steel giants. Leo’s voice came through the speaker.

"The main fleet of the archipelago forces is assembled. Quite a sight, isn’t it? The spherical formation on the eastern side is the First Air Fleet with the Raven and Hydelund, while the cubic formation on the west is the Second Assault Fleet, led by the battleships Riviere and Red Deer."

As Kiyoaki listened to Leo’s explanation, he also observed the massive assembly of the St Vault naval air force. It was indeed a sight unlike anything he’d seen before—an enormous airborne fleet, spreading vertically from 2,000 to 5,000 meters and horizontally across about five kilometres.

The First Air Fleet, which Kiyoaki and his squad were about to board, was a carrier task force. At its core were the pride of the St Vault naval air force, the regular flying aircraft carriers Raven and Hydeland, with four light carriers and four heavy cruisers positioned at the tips of each axis, while eight light cruisers and sixteen destroyers formed a spherical perimeter around the carrier group. Any enemy air force attempting to attack the Raven and Hydeland would be caught in the deep net of anti-air fire, suffering significant losses.

Behind them was the Second Fleet, an island-assault force cantered around battleships. The precise cubic formation consisted of sixteen ships in four rows, stretching from 1,000 to 5,000 meters in altitude. Two super-dreadnought flying battleships occupied the centre of the cube, heavily defended by eight heavy cruisers, four light cruisers, and two destroyers. Once the carrier task force secured air superiority, the Second Fleet’s mission was to use ship-to-ship artillery to neutralize the ground defences of the flying fortress Kalkinos and support the landing forces.

Further behind the cube formation, hundreds of flying boats and dozens of assault landing ships fitted with lift devices followed like a school of sardines. These carried nearly 50,000 ground troops waiting for the opportunity to storm the flying fortress. For their safe landing on the floating island, the Voltec Air Squadron needed to establish air superiority.

"First and Second Squadrons, land on the Raven, Third Squadron on the Hydeland," Leo commanded, leading the descent spiral toward the centre of the spherical formation.

The majestic sight of the First Air Fleet grew larger in front of the windshield.

The awe-inspiring spectacle of these massive steel giants moving in precise formation through the sky sent shivers down Kiyoaki’s spine. Was this breathtaking display of power, an angelic host in the heavens, the ultimate result of perfecting the art of death and destruction? Like the twelve angels of myth, the airborne fleet spread its wings of lift devices, solemnly welcoming the Voltec Air Squadron into their ranks.

Safely landing on the Raven at 3,500 meters, Kiyoaki and the others handed their aircraft over to the carrier’s mechanics and gathered in the ready room below deck for a briefing on the upcoming mission.

According to the Raven’s air operations officer, Uranos had already detected their movements and dispatched an airborne fleet to the area near the Great Waterfall. Kalkinos would undoubtedly come out to meet them.

"The goal of this operation is not to occupy Santos Island. It’s to annihilate the enemy’s airborne and naval forces. If the Voltec Air Squadron doesn’t secure air superiority, the mission can’t proceed. We’ll handle the direct defence of the First Fleet."

Beside the air operations officer, the Raven’s squadron leader nodded grimly. Normally, it would have been the Raven’s air squadron in charge of securing air superiority, but given the importance of this decisive battle, the elite Voltec Squadron had been selected instead. It seemed that the base air squadrons were more accustomed to air combat than their carrier counterparts. While this decision likely did not sit well with the Raven’s air squadron, the fate of the nation resting on this battle made it inevitable that St Vault’s strongest squadron would be entrusted with the critical task.

It would take about two more hours to reach the Great Waterfall, so the Voltec Squadron members were put on standby in the crew quarters.

The room quickly filled with the smell of alcohol, cigarettes, and cigars as the enlisted pilots eagerly anticipated the battle ahead, unable to hide their excitement. Everyone was fired up, eager to take off as soon as possible.

In wartime, they say the hardest thing is waiting.

Would they make it back alive? Would all their comrades return unharmed? Perhaps today would be the last day of their lives. With their adrenaline pumping and a mix of excitement and fear swirling inside them, all they could do was sit tight and wait for the encounter with the enemy fleet. Beside Kiyoaki, Kagura and Illia wore tense expressions. Only Reiner, with his usual nonchalant grin, seemed unaffected, making his usual careless remarks.

"Look, we’re just PR material. Just coming back alive is enough to make headlines. No need to push ourselves. Let’s just take it easy and come back."

Illia raised an eyebrow at his words.

"We can’t slack off. Doing so would put our allies at risk. We might be PR material, but we should give our all to achieve victory."

"Yeah, I figured you’d say that. It’s the kind of thinking that gets you killed. This is your first big air battle, so just treat it like a learning experience. No one’s expecting us to achieve great results."

"This isn’t our first sortie. We can’t just sit back and act like guests. If we mess around, the burden will fall on the rest of the squad. What exactly are we supposed to learn by leaving our comrades to die?"

"See, that’s exactly the kind of thinking that gets you killed. You, especially, Illia. You’re the type to charge in alone, get surrounded, and shot down."

"What did you say!?"

"Enough," Kagura interrupted, stopping Illia from getting any closer to Reiner. She took a deep breath, her eyes steeling with determination.

"Illia’s right that we shouldn’t slack off, and Reiner’s right that we shouldn’t push too hard. The decision is mine as the squad leader. It’s not up to you two."

She spoke with resolve, though the tension of commanding her first squadron was evident. Kiyoaki, offering his support, nodded.

"Yes. I’ll stick with you, Kagura. I won’t leave your side."

Illia, too, turned to Kagura with a serious expression.

"I was out of line. On the battlefield, I will follow your orders."

"Good. I intend to fight aggressively, but we’ll all come back alive."

"Yes!"

Kiyoaki and Illia’s voices chimed together in response.

Kiyoaki resolved within himself: Today, my role isn’t to shoot down enemies. It’s to protect Kagura as her wingman.

At that moment, an announcement echoed through the ship.

"Enemy flying fortress Kalkinos sighted! Voltec Squadron, prepare for combat!"

A cheer erupted from the squadron as the pilots rushed toward the upper deck.

"Let’s go!"

Kagura’s firm voice spurred Kiyoaki into action. He dashed out of the crew quarters and climbed the ladder to the upper deck.

Already, the escort fighters were taking off, swarming around the spherical formation like bees. In front of the bridge, thirty members of the Voltec Squadron had gathered. The Raven’s squadron leader stood before a blackboard, where he had pinned a map of the battle zone. He marked the friendly fleet’s position with white circles and the location of the enemy flying fortress, as reported by reconnaissance, with black circles.

"Approximately 350 kilometres to the northwest, just beyond the Great Waterfall, the Kalkinos is accompanied by two regular carriers, two battleships, ten cruisers, and sixteen destroyers. While we haven’t confirmed the presence of lift devices, assume that the carriers and battleships are capable of flight."

The thirty pilots of the First and Second Squadrons listened intently to the briefing. The squadron leader continued.

"Our task is to first neutralize the carriers, then secure air superiority around the flying fortress. The remaining naval forces will be dealt with by the Second Fleet. Focus on the Kalkinos."

His words were firm, and the pilots responded with resolute shouts.

"The air superiority squad will launch first, followed by the bombing and torpedo squads twenty minutes later. This won’t be settled in a single strike. Expect second and third waves of attacks. Remember your fuel, fight with all your might, and come back alive!"

"Sir!”

“Let’s go! Knock those sky pirates down into the Great Waterfall!!”

At the rear of the deck, the Beo-Eagles were already lined up, engines running. Kiyoaki once again leaped into his beloved aircraft and waited for the moment to take off.

Ahead of him, comrades from Leo’s battalion were taking off one after another. Unlike land-based operations, they couldn’t launch three aircraft simultaneously, which made the process slower. After Kagura and Illia took off, Kiyoaki connected the engine shaft with the inertia-driven mechanism, lowered the flaps, and fully opened the throttle, lifting off just before the bridge.

As they joined up with the fifteen aircraft launched from the Hydeland, a lead aircraft with three seats took the front of the formation. A skilled navigator, who excelled in celestial navigation, calculated the speed and course of the enemy fleet and led the 45-aircraft squadron of air superiority fighters toward the estimated contact point.

As Kiyoaki gazed at Kagura’s tail fin, his heart began to pound faster.

The enemy’s air force was clearly superior. Their numbers were nearly double that of their own.

But…

We have to win. This battle will decide the outcome of the war.

Both the enemy and allied forces had brought almost all their air and naval strength to this battlefield. Whoever was annihilated here would be the loser of the Hydrabard Campaign, without a doubt. No matter how large the enemy was, they had to be brought down. Casualties in the process were unavoidable.

I don’t want any of my comrades to die…

With that prayer in his heart, Kiyoaki kept flying.

Before long…

“We are entering the target airspace. All hands, prepare for battle. Stay vigilant, and report any abnormalities immediately,” Leo’s voice came through, and Kiyoaki narrowed his eyes as he stared ahead.

They were flying at an altitude of 2,500 meters. Beyond the windscreen, the horizon seemed to rush toward them at an abnormal speed.

No… that’s not the horizon.

It’s a rupture in the ocean.

The blue ocean stretched endlessly, broken by a horizontal crack that seemed to divide it. Even from this altitude, the crack’s end was lost in the atmospheric haze, beyond the range of sight.

The infinite blue was torn open.

The Great Waterfall.

The moment he realized it, the ocean below them vanished into the abyss.

It was as if the ground had been pulled out from under them, dropping them into a deep chasm.

The ocean collapsed, like an avalanche of snow.

The water that collided with the lower sea surface spewed massive plumes of mist at the base of the Great Waterfall, stretching into the horizon and forming thousands of rainbows. Looking back at the waterfall, it appeared as though a wall of rainbows stood behind them.

The vertical drop of the rupture was about 1,300 meters. As planned, Kiyoaki adjusted his altimeter to 3,800 meters using his fingertips. It was a breathtaking sight, no matter how many times he saw it, but now was not the time for leisurely sightseeing.

The lead aircraft shook its wings vigorously, signalling that it had visual on the target.

“Forty degrees to the left, enemy fleet sighted!!”

“Flying fortress sighted!!”

The speakers crackled with announcements in quick succession. Kiyoaki focused his gaze in the indicated direction.

To the southwest, there was a swarm of steel ships spread out on the ocean’s surface. Two massive silver slabs lined up side by side, with two colossal whale-like shapes ahead and behind, surrounded by smaller ships like a school of fish.

Their first target was the Uranos carrier fleet in its circular formation.

Far behind the fleet, hovering at an altitude of about 2,000 meters, was a familiar, ominous island-like silhouette.

“Kalkinos, approximately 30,000 meters away!!”

The lead plane identified the fortress by its shape and calculated the distance, relaying the information to the entire squadron. Leo’s orders came through clearly.

“The first target is the carrier fleet. Secure air superiority around the fleet.”

“Hah!!”

At 3,500 meters, Kiyoaki looked down at the imposing fleet below. It was the largest fleet he had ever seen. Their task was to neutralize it and then move on to the flying fortress. The battle would continue until both were defeated.

“Enemy aircraft sighted!!”

Hamilton’s shout rang out from the speakers. Kiyoaki quickly scanned the surrounding airspace but saw nothing.

“Lead the way! All planes, follow Hamilton!!”

Leo’s command echoed, and Hamilton flipped his wings like a hawk, catching the sunlight as he climbed for altitude.

Kagura followed, with Kiyoaki and Illia guarding her flanks as they ascended.

The Beo-Eagle engines roared, pulling the planes rapidly upward.

At 5,700 meters, Hamilton levelled off. Kiyoaki strained his eyes in the direction of Hamilton’s nose and spotted them.

“Enemy fighters…!”

They weren’t Idra. These were unfamiliar fighters with W-shaped silhouettes when seen from the front.

“That’s the Ion. It’s Uranos’ new model. Two 20mm cannons in the wings, two 13mm machine guns in the fuselage. I’ve never seen so many of them at once. Be careful, they’re much stronger than the Idra,” Leo’s calm voice warned.

The enemy had apparently spotted them as well. A swarm of about seventy enemy planes approached head-on at the same altitude.

“We’re evenly matched. Don’t chase them too far. Their numbers and performance may be better, but we’ve got teamwork on our side.”

“Hah!!”

Kiyoaki responded through the mic, feeling his adrenaline spike.

The enemy formation closed in rapidly.

Their wings were curved in an unusual shape, and he could see the 20mm cannons jutting out from the wings. It was an eerie opponent, unfamiliar and unsettling.

They were less than 5,000 meters away now. With both sides at combat speed, the distance would disappear in the blink of an eye.

“Here we go!!”

“Yee-haw!!”

“Let’s do this!!”

“Don’t die, everyone!!”

Voices of command, cheers, and encouragement echoed from the speakers, as streams of tracer rounds rained down in front of Kiyoaki.

“Contact!!”

The deafening roar of propellers passed overhead.

Simultaneously, a barrage of incendiary rounds sliced through the air around the cockpit.

Black smoke billowed, flames erupted, and Kiyoaki’s eyes widened in concentration.

His focus was solely on Kagura’s plane.

I must protect Kagura.

That was the only thought on his mind.

“Kagura Squadron, moving into pursuit! Kiyoaki, Illia, cover the rear!!” Kagura’s clear voice broke through the chaos on the radio.

“Hah!!”

Kagura twisted her plane, looking up at the ocean from beneath, and dove into a roll. As Kiyoaki followed her lead, he noticed the Ion squadron chasing one of their own Beo-Eagles, oblivious to their approach. Kagura had already spotted a vulnerable target.

I hadn’t noticed it myself.

Feeling a slight pang of frustration, Kiyoaki followed Kagura’s right wing, descending 1,500 meters in one quick dive. The Ion chasing the Beo-Eagle was completely unaware of their presence.

Through the windscreen, the upper surface of the Ion grew larger.

It was a textbook perfect angle for a deflection shot. A good omen.

Kagura’s plane became the hawk, sinking its talons of armour-piercing rounds into the exposed back of the defenceless prey.

“Kill confirmed!!”

As the enemy plane turned into a ball of fire, Kagura’s triumphant shout echoed through the radio.

“Well done, Kagura!!”

As Kiyoaki followed Kagura’s pull-up, he praised her. Nearby, the grateful Beo-Eagle pilot signalled his thanks to Kagura.

“Don’t let your guard down. The enemy still has the advantage. Keep a lookout.”

“Hah!”

After exchanging words with Kagura, Kiyoaki scanned the skies above.

The airspace was a chaotic dance floor, where the Beo-Eagles and Ions clashed.

It was a brutal dogfight, with no room for hit-and-run tactics.

Each side chased the other’s tail, gnashing at each other, and one by one, planes turned into fireballs, scattering in the blue sky.

Shattered fragments of aircraft whirled through the summer air. Sparkling like glittering dust, they were kicked aside as the silver wings of the Beo-Eagles spat streams of tracer rounds. The Ions, like wild gazelles, dodged the fiery arrows with nimble manoeuvres, executing a series of nearly impossible high-G turns that allowed them to flip behind the Beo-Eagles. After a few exchanges, it became clear that the Ions had superior manoeuvrability.

It was dangerous.”

“I’ll protect them!!”

Kagura shouted, echoing Kiyoaki’s own thoughts.

Kagura surged upward, rushing to rescue a comrade who was being tailed by an enemy. Kiyoaki quickly followed in formation on her right, when—

“Enemy aircraft at one hundred and twenty degrees left!!”

Illia’s voice rang out.

Kiyoaki turned in the indicated direction. Just as Illia had said, three Ion fighters were heading toward them. They were outnumbered, and in this chaotic battle, it was inevitable they’d be chased.

“Illia, Kiyoaki, I’m counting on you…!!”

“Yes!!”

Kagura had to prioritize helping their ally. Meanwhile, Kiyoaki and Illia had to fend off the three approaching enemy planes to protect Kagura.

I won’t let Kagura be killed right in front of me.

Kiyoaki tightened his grip on the control stick, pouring his soul into it.

He glared at the approaching enemy planes.

“Come on.”

His eyes sharpened like those of a fierce predator.

Illia’s calm voice came over the radio.

“Let’s stay calm, Sakagami.”

“Yeah, stay calm.”

Together, they rolled their wings and approached the enemies stalking Kagura. They quickly positioned themselves to intercept the incoming threat, placing themselves in the perfect position to shoot down the enemy if they dared to target Kagura.

Kagura was completely focused on her original target. Locking onto an enemy during a dogfight required all her concentration, leaving her unable to deal with any pursuers. During this vulnerable time, it was up to her wingmen to defend her.

Kagura trusted Kiyoaki and Illia, and they entrusted their lives to protecting her.

The three operated as one.

We will protect her.

With intense concentration, Kiyoaki closed in on the enemies, occasionally coming close to colliding with them, firing intimidating bursts of 20mm rounds directly at their noses.

Kagura’s wings unleashed fire, and once again, a fiery explosion blossomed in the sky.

“Enemy down!!”

Kagura twisted her body as if leaping off the ground, like a deer. The enemy that had been chasing her kept following, and now Kiyoaki was tailing the enemy in turn.

The chase lined up like a string of beads: enemy, ally, enemy, in a continuous pursuit. Just as the enemy was about to lock onto Kagura, Kiyoaki had his sights on that very same enemy.

There was no hesitation.

He squeezed the trigger, and the enemy plane shattered in his sights.

Instead of the expected rush of exhilaration, Kiyoaki felt a chilling sensation creep over him.

He didn’t even have time to shout in triumph before glancing back.

“What!?”

A new Ion had appeared right behind him, so close that its presence sent a shiver down his spine.

It was a sure hit.

I’ve been caught.

In that moment of resignation, Mio’s smiling face flashed before Kiyoaki’s eyes.

Mio, I’m sorry.

I won’t be able to come see you.

In the split second he silently apologized, the Ion’s left wing was blown apart.

Kiyoaki’s impending death was sent flying out of sight, far off into the distance.

Instead, a Beo-Eagle soared upward, scattering the debris of the destroyed enemy plane. From the cockpit, a beautiful girl waved at Kiyoaki.

“Illia!!”

“Stay focused. We still have a long way to go.”

Filled with gratitude, Kiyoaki followed Illia. That was a close call. If she hadn’t intervened, he would surely have been blown to pieces and fallen into the ocean.

“Yeah, sorry, and thank you…!!”

After reuniting with Kagura, Kiyoaki and Illia exchanged signals of thanks and turned their attention back to the battlefield.

The situation was still dire. Despite their valiant efforts, they were at a disadvantage in both numbers and aircraft performance.

Kiyoaki saw two, three Beo-Eagles trailing long tails of fire as they fell. The planes carried comrades who had been drinking and fooling around on the beach just the night before. From the speakers came the desperate calls for fallen friends.

“Moby!! Please respond, Moby!!”

“No, Glenda, don’t leave, Glenda!!”

They were familiar names. So Moby and Glenda had been aboard those two planes that had just crashed into the sea. Moby had been the one to casually talk to Kiyoaki when he was still a nervous newcomer. Glenda, though tough, had a kind heart, often standing up for Illia when the non-commissioned officers teased her with crude jokes. Had those kind souls really been reduced to nothing but sea foam?

But there was no time for grief on the battlefield.

“Fight! You can cry later!!”

Kagura’s commanding voice rang out, shaking Kiyoaki from his sorrow.

That’s right. There’s no time to mourn.

He realized he had almost let himself be overwhelmed by sadness. In this place, drowning in such weak emotions would surely invite the Grim Reaper’s scythe in the next instant.

Right now, there was only one thing to do. Fight with everything he had, to make sure no more comrades died, so that as many of them as possible could make it back alive.

“Yes! I will fight with you!!”

He threw his response over the radio and chased Kagura’s tail once more. With only courage in his heart, he dove into the deadly melee where enemies and allies clashed fiercely.

Their only advantage was their formation flying.

Kiyoaki constantly checked Kagura’s position, ensuring he didn’t lose sight of her while keeping an eye out for any enemies targeting her. When Kagura moved in to strike an enemy, he immediately provided cover, intimidating or distracting any threats that tried to interfere.

The inside of Kiyoaki’s skull grew hotter.

With every enemy Kagura shot down, and with each one Kiyoaki himself downed, he felt his entire body surge with adrenaline.

The sweet intoxication of battle was overtaking his thoughts. His instincts for survival and battle were rising to the surface.

I want to shoot down more enemies.

Despite being surrounded by death in this chaotic air battle, Kiyoaki felt no fear. Instead, the thrill of shooting down enemies made him crave more.

It’s not enough.

Pushing through clouds of smoke, watching enemy planes disintegrate in flames, Kiyoaki had already turned into a beast, driven solely by the hunger for more kills.

Isn’t there a more challenging enemy out there?

He had long since stopped counting how many planes he’d downed. His only focus was breaking through fireballs and reducing fleeing enemies to twisted metal.

At that moment, when he was seeking his next target—

“Kiyoaki, you’re going too far!!”

Kagura’s voice snapped him out of it.

He looked around, suddenly aware of his surroundings. Kagura was nowhere to be seen. Illia wasn’t there either. Two Ion fighters were closing in from his rear, approaching fast.

He cursed under his breath.

Realizing he had let himself get carried away by the heat of battle, Kiyoaki saw the Ions’ 20mm cannons aiming right at his fuselage.

He rolled sharply to the side to dodge and began a dive. The enemy followed, turning sharply as they pursued. Their superior firepower, speed, and manoeuvrability meant that if he stayed on the defensive, it was only a matter of time before they shot him down.

“Damn it.”

He had been warned so many times not to fly off on his own, and yet here he was, completely isolated. Outmatched in both numbers and aircraft performance, their only advantage had been their formation tactics—and Kiyoaki had abandoned it.

“Kiyoaki, where are you? I can’t see you!!”

Kagura’s panicked voice came over the radio.

“Sakagami, I’m sorry, I’ve lost visual…!!”

Illia’s apologetic voice followed. Kiyoaki responded with a strained voice.

“Don’t worry about me, I’ll handle it…!!”

Even though his job was to protect Kagura, Kiyoaki had let the chaos of the battle consume him, and now he was paying the price. He had to at least clean up his own mess.

I’ve fought one-on-one with Illia so many times.

Compared to Illia, you’re nothing…!!

He glared at the enemy fighters chasing him. Their speed was superior, and the gap between them closed quickly.

Altitude: fifty meters.

The ocean stretched right below him. All he could do now was fly low, skimming the surface and waiting for his comrades to come to his aid.

If I keep running, someone will help me.

Trust your comrades. Just hang on until then.

Kiyoaki reassured himself as he timed the enemy’s shots, slamming the foot pedals.

The 20mm rounds from the enemy plane peppered the sea surface, sending up thousands of water spouts.

As he dodged the bullets, another enemy plane fired its second barrage.

“Dammit…!!”

Barely managing to kick the left pedal, Kiyoaki narrowly avoided the attack. A split-second mistake in manoeuvring would mean instant death, turning him into nothing but debris on the ocean floor. The slightest mistiming, too early or too late, would spell the end. Yet, this was the only way to survive.

“I won’t lose to you, you bastard…!!”

He growled as he glared back at the pursuing enemy. Just then, the lead Ion exploded into pieces.

“What!?”

"I told you not to go in alone."

A reprimanding voice came over the speaker. A friendly Beo-Eagle shot past Kiyoaki, and painted on the nose was a playful lion.

“Lieutenant Leo!!”

The moment Kiyoaki shouted in joy, another Ion’s wing was blown apart.

“Yoo-hoo, Kiyoaki, you’re looking brave out there~”

“Don’t get cocky, kid!”

Leo’s wingmen, Lulu and Lala, waved cheerfully as they overtook Kiyoaki. Swallowing his pride and feeling gratitude, Kiyoaki waved back.

“Yes, sorry! Thank you so much!!”

Both Illia earlier and now Leo’s squad had saved his life twice. If not for them, Kiyoaki would have died already. He reflected on his recklessness and vowed not to repeat the mistake.

“The strike force has arrived. All units, switch to escort duty. Don’t engage unnecessarily, protect the torpedo bombers.”

Leo’s command echoed, and when Kiyoaki looked up towards the great waterfall, he saw a massive formation of one hundred and twenty St Vault aircraft: dive bombers carrying 500kg bombs and torpedo planes equipped with oxygen torpedoes.

Though they hadn’t achieved air superiority yet, the attack would proceed. Knowing that the enemy fleet was also launching its own attack on the friendly fleet, Kiyoaki understood that some of his comrades would inevitably fall prey to the enemy fighters, but the strike had to go ahead now.

Kiyoaki turned his craft toward the strike force. He was still being pursued by enemies, but for now, protecting the friendly bombers was the top priority. Circling around the slow-moving formation of bombers, he fended off any approaching enemy fighters, driving them away.

The bombers moved agonizingly slowly. To the fighter pilots, they seemed to crawl along. Kiyoaki, taking on the role of a sheepdog protecting a flock from wolves, tried to keep his mind clear and assess the situation.

The enemy Ion fighters attacked the bombers from all directions using hit-and-run tactics. Kiyoaki focused on disrupting their attacks, aiming his guns at their noses to drive them off. The goal wasn’t to shoot them down, just to keep them from attacking the bombers. In an air superiority mission, the priority was killing enemies, but during escort duty, the focus was entirely on protecting the friendlies.

But it wasn’t easy. Unable to engage in proper dogfights, Kiyoaki saw two, three of his comrades’ planes go down. Each time, desperate voices crackled through the speakers.

“I’m hit… I’m done for.”

It was Jude’s voice. Glancing down, Kiyoaki saw a Beo-Eagle trailing a long tail of fire as it plummeted toward the ocean. The pilot was waving from the cockpit.

“Bail out, you can still make it!!”

“Don’t go, Jude! It’s too soon!!”

“No, please, Jude, don’t die!!”

The anguished cries of his comrades filled the radio. Kiyoaki could only shout in desperation.

“Jude! Use your parachute!!”

But the flames had already engulfed the cockpit. Jude’s final words came through, filled with resolve.

“Win this… for me, guys!”

With those words, Jude’s plane exploded. The fireball rose high into the sky, and the squad’s screams followed in its wake.

“Don’t lose heart! Fight! Fight for Jude!!”

Leo’s angry shout pierced through the airwaves. Though sadness tinged his voice, there was only one thing left to do now: fight.

Kiyoaki glared at the approaching enemy fighters. Jude, who had joined the Voltec Air Squadron to pay for his brother’s medical bills, always led the charge during their drunken antics on the beach. That crude but kind-hearted young man was gone now. For Jude’s sake, Kiyoaki knew this attack had to succeed.

All units came together, focusing everything they had on protecting the bombers and torpedo planes. After what felt like an eternity, though only two minutes had passed, they finally reached the decisive battleground, despite the heavy losses.

“Thanks, fighters. Raven dive bombers, entering bombing run.”

“Hydeland torpedo squad, thanks for the cover. We’re commencing the attack.”

With those brief words of gratitude, the dive bombers began their descent from 3,500 meters, accompanied by the roar of their propellers. Below, the torpedo planes fanned out in an arc, launching their attack.

Their target was the ring-shaped formation of the enemy carrier fleet, a castle-like stronghold on the sea.

As the air thickened with anti-aircraft fire, the bombers and torpedo planes were engulfed in a storm of shrapnel.

Bombers exploded in mid-air, torpedo planes were torn apart, all while still carrying their payloads. But no one stopped. They left behind the deaths of their comrades in an instant and pressed forward, single-mindedly focused on their target.

They broke through the screen of destroyers and cruisers and locked their sights on the enemy carriers. Swarming Ion fighters tried to stop them, but the Voltec Air Squadron literally shielded them with their bodies.

Amidst the cries of death and destruction, bombs and torpedoes streaked toward the enemy carriers.

Mixed in with the cries was a shout of victory.

“Direct hit!!”

“Take that, you bastard!!”

A 500kg bomb had landed squarely on an enemy carrier’s flight deck, and a massive fireball erupted as the ship lurched to one side. A moment later, two massive plumes of water rose from torpedo strikes along the carrier’s flank.

“Torpedo hit!!”

“That’s for Jude, you bastards!!”

The shouts of triumph from the Voltec Air Squadron echoed in Kiyoaki’s ears. He couldn’t help but share their satisfaction. This victory was achieved at great cost, paid for by the lives of their comrades.

The subsequent waves of allied bombers followed suit, unleashing their payloads on the enemy carrier fleet. One carrier was critically damaged, and another had its flight deck destroyed by dive bombers. The first wave of attacks had gone exceptionally well.

“Return to base! Prepare for the second strike!!”

Leo’s command reverberated through the air. With the first attack complete, there was no reason to linger. Leo led the Voltec Air Squadron as they turned back toward the Great Waterfall.

“Don’t let your guard down. There’s still the flying fortress to deal with…”

Burning Leo’s warning into his mind, Kiyoaki found Kagura and took his position behind her. After a quick apology, the surviving members of the squadron aligned their wings and returned to their mothership, Raven. Though exhausted from the first wave, the battle was far from over. The fight to obliterate the enemy’s remaining forces would continue.

We will win, and we will survive.

Kiyoaki etched those words into his heart as he followed Kagura across the waterfall. The long day had only just begun.

Part 6 Unable to Sleep

Kiyoaki sat up from the bunk assigned to him, staring into the darkness. All around him, the loud snores of his fellow pilots echoed. Everyone was exhausted from the day’s fierce battle, fast asleep without a care in the world.

Three hours ago, they had completed the third attack wave and safely returned to the Raven. The day’s mission was over. They had been handed a wet towel each to wipe down with—serving as a substitute for a bath—and were given rations before being ordered to sleep early. The air staff had instructed them to get plenty of rest since tomorrow’s attack on the floating fortress was already scheduled to begin at dawn.

The main enemy fleet had been mostly neutralized. The second fleet was currently stationed in the southern islands, engaging in mopping-up operations against the remaining forces. By tomorrow morning, the enemy’s naval forces would likely be entirely wiped out. The first day’s objectives had been mostly achieved.

But Kiyoaki’s nerves were still on edge, preventing him from falling asleep. The echoes of the air battles that had taken place, one after another, reverberated in his mind.

So many of his comrades had died.

His hands trembled at the mere thought of it.

Mobie, Glenda, Jude, Huey, Diaz, Friedrich, Aegil, Nicola, Corina, Dorothy, Aida…

The memories of their deaths, their final words, and their screams clung to his mind and refused to leave.

Just yesterday, those people had been alive, drinking, enjoying music, and falling in love on the beach. Many of them had faced financial hardships, only to reluctantly go to war in search of a better life after the war. But now, they were all gone, swallowed by the sea.

Why did those good people have to die?

The helpless anger at the loss of his comrades shook Kiyoaki’s chest. The reason the lives of the lower-ranking soldiers were so impoverished was that the government was spending more than half of the national budget on the military. The burden of this fell as heavy taxes on the people, forcing those who wanted to support their families to join the military and go to war, only to be discarded like pawns.

This is wrong. It’s insane.

Kiyoaki was overwhelmed by confusion and dismay, witnessing the deaths of so many lower-ranked soldiers in such quick succession.

Up until now, he had focused solely on defeating Uranos, putting in relentless effort to achieve that goal. He had never given much thought to what happened along the way. His only concern was defeating the enemy, gaining achievements, and one day becoming a commander who would lead an army to destroy Uranos. He had been chasing that grand dream all his life.

But along the way, his comrades had died.

He understood that, intellectually. But experiencing the deaths of his comrades firsthand—the weight of each individual death—began to crack the very foundation of his ideals.

So this is war.

Kiyoaki had thought he had become accustomed to combat after his missions in the enemy skies over Eriadore and air defence missions over Mauregan Island. But the scale of today’s battle was incomparable. All the previous battles had been mere rehearsals, and today was the real thing.

Decades of time, resources, and money were poured into the creation of these military forces—constructed from the blood, sweat, and tears of the people—only for them to become scrap metal and sink into the sea within hours. Calling it “foolish” didn’t even begin to capture the staggering waste of energy. If that same money had been spent on promoting mutual understanding, cooperation, and building a future that transcended races and borders, how much happiness could have been created?

This is absurd.

The whole world is insane.

Anger boiled within him, making sleep impossible.

Kiyoaki got out of bed and stepped into the corridor. Although they had been instructed not to wander too far within the labyrinth of the carrier, he remembered the way to the deck. As he passed through narrow corridors, listening to the hum of the ship’s engines, he occasionally passed workers going about their duties. Eventually, he climbed a ladder, opened a hatch, and stepped onto the upper deck.

“Ahh…”

A clear, star-filled sky greeted him. The cool sea breeze swept over him, soothing his turbulent thoughts. The stars, which silently looked down on humanity’s folly, were enveloped in profound stillness.

The Raven was anchored at sea, and the ship was under a blackout, so there were no artificial lights, only the pale blue light of the moon and stars bathing the vast deck. Nearby, the carrier Hydeland and other escort ships were also present, but they too were blacked out, making them invisible in the dark.

Kiyoaki stood still, gazing up at the quiet stars, emptying his mind.

He didn’t want to think about anything. If he did, the sorrowful images of the day would come flooding back, and he wasn’t sure he could bear the pain of such losses.

Looking up at the stars, he whispered the name of the person dearest to him.

“Mio…”

Mio, who must be somewhere far away under this same night sky. What was she doing right now?

“I want to see you. I miss you.”

If only Mio were here beside him, Kiyoaki was sure she would cheer him up with her usual encouraging words, giving him a hearty slap on the back and driving away his weakness. She’d probably joke, Stop sulking, you wimp, or What are you getting all sentimental about? with that mischievous smile of hers, teasing him while secretly offering comfort.

But Mio was no longer by his side.

“Kiyoaki.”

A sudden voice from behind made him jump, and he turned quickly.

“Illia. You’re awake?”

“…Yeah. Couldn’t sleep.”

Illia stood on the upper deck in her flight suit.

The blue light of the stars and the moon outlined her figure, casting her in a ghostly glow.

“Same here. I couldn’t sleep either.”

“…I see. …Yeah. I think I’m feeling the same as you right now.”

“…I understand.”

“…Their screams… I can’t get them out of my head.”

“…Me neither. I don’t want to hear those voices ever again…”

As their comrades fell, hurtling toward the sea, each had uttered their final, heart-wrenching cries. Some had thanked their comrades, others screamed that they didn’t want to die. Some called out for their mothers, others begged for their families to hear their last words. Those anguished voices echoed endlessly in Kiyoaki’s mind.

Illia, always so stoic, tough, and cold like a machine, now looked fragile, as if she might snap like a delicate young tree.

“…If I had noticed earlier, maybe I could have saved Corina. But I was too focused on chasing another enemy, and I didn’t realize she was right nearby, being pursued… Because of that…”

Illia’s voice trembled.

Kiyoaki had witnessed Corina’s plane spiralling downward, her cockpit engulfed in flames, after losing a wing.

“It’s burning! Somebody help me! Put out the fire! It’s burning, it’s so hot!!”

Her desperate screams had filled the speakers, followed by the silence after her plane crashed into the ocean. Just thinking about it made Kiyoaki’s stomach churn.

“…It wasn’t your fault, Illia. Our job was to protect Kagura, and we did that. There’s no reason to blame yourself.”

“…Yeah. …But still. If only I had kept my composure, if I had the presence of mind to see the bigger picture…”

Kiyoaki had never seen Illia look so fragile. But it was no wonder—despite her usual toughness, she was only nineteen. After a whole day on the battlefield, it was natural for anyone’s nerves to be frayed.

A pang of helplessness stirred within Kiyoaki.

He wanted to comfort her, to cheer her up, but the right words wouldn’t come. In fact, Kiyoaki himself felt just as drained and worn out as Illia.

“And Diaz… he was shot down by an enemy I couldn’t finish off. I gave up the chase, thinking I’d overextend, but that enemy turned around, and Diaz…”

Illia’s voice shook as she continued to blame herself. No matter how much she berated herself, it wouldn’t bring the dead back. But Illia, with her strong sense of responsibility, couldn’t forgive her own failures and kept connecting her comrades’ deaths to her actions.

“Illia, enough. I can’t stand to see you like this.”

“But… If only I’d chased that enemy a little longer. If I hadn’t given up so easily, if I had just kept firing, even if I missed… that enemy wouldn’t have gone after Diaz.”

“Stop it already. No amount of blaming yourself will change anything!”

Kiyoaki’s frustration boiled over, and his voice grew harsh.

Illia lifted her tearful eyes, her face on the verge of breaking into sobs.

“Because… it’s my fault, isn’t it…!?”

Her voice faltered as she pressed her face into Kiyoaki’s chest.

Instinctively, Kiyoaki pulled Illia closer, holding her tight against him, silencing her trembling lips with his chest.

The warmth of Illia’s body, her heartbeat, was transmitted through the embrace.

The rhythm of a living person.

Words weren’t needed. Kiyoaki squeezed her tighter. Right now, Illia didn’t need a thousand words; she needed the warmth of another human being.

When they had first met, she had seemed so intimidating, haughty, and cold, like a machine. But now, as he held her close, he realized that the girl in his arms was fragile, tender, and kind—so much so that she seemed about to break.

Illia’s trembling hands slowly, awkwardly, moved to wrap around Kiyoaki’s back.

Illia clung to him.

Their chests pressed together, and through that contact, they could feel each other’s heartbeats. The rhythm of life, played out in real-time, told them what words could not.

Kiyoaki realized how deeply he cared for Illia.

I have to be the one to support this weak, fragile girl by her side.

“Illia…”

He whispered her name. The starlight poured down on her, making her hair shine like a field of silver. Kiyoaki gently ran his fingers through it. Unable to suppress his racing heart, he held her tightly, albeit clumsily, with his other hand.

The horrific scenes of the battlefield began to melt away, replaced by the softness and warmth of Illia.

As if trying to shake off the memories of so much death, Kiyoaki and Illia pressed their cheeks against each other, feeling the warmth of their breaths and the rhythm of their heartbeats.

We’re alive.

The sheer miracle of that fact brought tears to Kiyoaki’s eyes. Witnessing so much death had only heightened the importance of the life they still had.

“Illia…”

Unable to let go, wanting to stay like this forever, but unable to find the words to express his feelings, Kiyoaki just kept calling Illia’s name, resting his cheek against her hair.

Illia said nothing in response, but she accepted Kiyoaki’s embrace in silence.

Illia’s slender hands, awkwardly clasped, clung tightly to Kiyoaki, refusing to let go.

Kiyoaki stopped thinking. He let go of everything—tomorrow’s dawn attack, the mission procedures, the operational plans—and focused only on the presence of Illia.

There was no guarantee they would survive tomorrow’s battle. Tomorrow could very well be the last day of his life. That’s why, more than anything, he wanted to cherish this moment with someone dear to him.

Kiyoaki slowly pulled away from Illia, their foreheads parting, and he gazed into her eyes from up close.

Illia, too, silently stared back at him. Her once tear-filled eyes now only reflected the serene night sky and Kiyoaki.

A breeze from the sea passed through, causing Illia’s long hair to sway gently in the wind.

Her slightly parted lips trembled ever so faintly.

Without words, her eyes spoke—telling Kiyoaki that she was ready to accept him completely.

Without thinking, Kiyoaki began to lean in to press his lips against hers.

But then—

I know this feeling.

A sudden, familiar sensation echoed in his mind.

The softness of a girl’s body… the warmth of holding someone like this. I’ve felt this before.

This scent and warmth… this isn’t the first time.

In Illia’s eyes, a different pair of eyes began to overlap.

Mio.

Out of nowhere, Kiyoaki’s memory of that night resurfaced—the night he and Mio had crash-landed on a deserted island and spent the night together.

Mio had said it was all a dream, but it wasn’t.

This is the second time I’ve held a girl like this in my arms.

Like a thunderclap, the truth pierced through his mind.

It wasn’t logical. His entire body just knew.

That night… I did something to Mio that can never be undone.

At last, Kiyoaki realized what had happened. His mind cleared, and he finally understood why Mio had tried to cover it up.

Back then, Mio was already being forced to betray someone.

That’s why she lied to avoid causing me any trouble…

The experience that Mio had dismissed as a dream was real. His memory still held the feel of her bare skin, her fleeting voice, and the delicate hands that had wrapped around his back.

And now, as he held Illia, he felt the same sensation.

That night, I held Mio the same way, kissed her, and took all of her for myself.

And now, here he was, about to do the same to Illia.

The moment he realized this, his heart shattered.

I’m such a fool. I’m the worst kind of man.

Though he held Illia tightly in his arms, Kiyoaki’s mind was consumed with thoughts of Mio.

“I’m going to be Kiyoaki’s bride!”

The image of Mio smiling in the canola fields on Messus Island, wearing a tiara of flowers, overlapped with Illia’s face.

“No cheating! We promised we’d get married!”

It was such a silly childhood promise.

But now, that tiny promise weighed heavily on Kiyoaki’s heart.

If I fall in love with Illia, Mio will cry.

I can’t make Mio cry again…

Kiyoaki pulled his hand from Illia’s hair and gently loosened the arms that had held her close. In a small voice, he asked her,

“…Are you okay? Can you stand on your own?”

Illia continued to gaze at him with those star-filled eyes, still not saying a word.

Kiyoaki placed both hands on her shoulders, speaking as softly as he could manage.

“…We’re officers. Right now, it’s fine. But tomorrow, we can’t show this weakness.”

“……………………”

“…For now, it’s fine. You can vent, cry, whatever you need. Just let it all out. Tell me everything that’s in your heart.”

“……………………”

“…Tomorrow is another battle. We can’t afford to die here. We have to stay strong… Even if we have to force ourselves to act like officers.”

The wind had stopped. Illia’s hair, which had been flowing in the breeze, settled down against her back, and the familiar liveliness began to slowly return to her star-filled eyes.

“…Yeah. I know. We’re officers… We have to keep it together,” Illia murmured, as if reassuring herself. She looked down for a moment, steeling her expression, and then lifted her face again.

“…I showed you something pathetic. Forget it.”

“…Not at all. It’s normal. There’s nothing pathetic about it. That’s what being human is.”

“…Sorry. I’ll be fine tomorrow. I’ll act like an officer should.”

“…Yeah. But if it gets tough, just tell me. I might not be able to say anything clever, but I can listen. I’d be happy if you told me.”

Illia looked up at the stars, took a deep breath, and reclaimed her usual confident, tomboyish demeanour.

“…Let’s go back. We need to get some sleep for tomorrow. It’s going to be a long day again.”

“…Right. Yeah, tomorrow’s going to be even tougher than today…”

“We have to survive… We can’t die. We have to come back alive…”

“I know. We’ll both come back alive, Illia and I.”

Their eyes met, and then, side by side, they walked toward the hatch that led off the deck.

Though a lingering feeling of reluctance clung to Kiyoaki, he pushed it aside, said his final goodnight to Illia, and headed back to the barracks.

He crawled into his bed, closed his eyes, and waited for sleep to come.

But his mind remained wide awake. The sensation of holding Illia’s back and the memory of Mio’s bare form from that stormy night still clung to every cell in his body.

Mio…

The lie you told is too painful.

It’s too sad, and I feel so guilty… I don’t know what to do.

Tears welled up in Kiyoaki’s eyes. Frustrated, he scolded himself, wiping them away with his fingers. But the thought of Mio’s feelings gnawed at him, making it impossible to stay still.

If only I could fly to Pleiades right now.

If only I could get you back and apologize.

Overcome with indescribable emotion, Kiyoaki suddenly stood up and banged his head against the wall. He bit his lip so hard it bled, all while repeatedly whispering apologies to the absent Mio.

As he struck his head against the wall, he searched for the path he should follow.

What I have to do now is win tomorrow’s battle.

Capture the flying fortress, defeat Uranos, and one day conquer Pleiades.

Repeating this to himself, Kiyoaki continued to bash his head against the steel wall until one of his fellow pilots, awakened by the noise, rushed over and stopped him. Blood trickled from his forehead, but Kiyoaki couldn’t stop. Though he knew this wouldn’t atone for anything, he desperately wanted to punish his dull, irresponsible, impulsive self.

He knew hurting himself wouldn’t make up for anything, but in that moment, it was all he could think to do.

The enemy was desperate. It was life or death for them, and Leo’s voice echoed through the speaker with a grim reminder.

“Don’t underestimate the enemy. Stay focused. Keep your cool, always watch your surroundings, and never allow yourself to be isolated.”

Kiyoaki fixed his gaze on the enemy shapes illuminated by the dawn’s light, hearing Leo’s calm yet urgent words. Ahead, in the sea just beyond the Great Falls, the enemy’s flying fortress, Kalkinos, floated ominously, awaiting the full-on assault of the St Vault Naval Air Force. In the surrounding airspace, a massive formation of enemy fighter jets swarmed like countless particles of dust.

His hands on the control stick were already slick with sweat just from the sight. The enemy must have called for reinforcements overnight from bases scattered across the Southern Archipelago. The enemy’s formation was overwhelming. Almost every Uranos fighter jet deployed to the region seemed to be gathered around the fortress, with nearly ninety planes spread across three altitudes—6,000 meters, 3,000 meters, and 1,000 meters.

The Voltec Air Squadron only had 35 Beo-Eagles, but they had no choice but to take control of this airspace. Without doing so, the follow-up forces wouldn’t be able to launch their assault.

“We are a team, and our strength lies in that. Do not push forward recklessly. If we fight as one, we will find our opening,” Leo’s steady voice brought a sense of calm to all of them. Kiyoaki took a deep breath, cooling the heat rising inside his head.

He hadn’t slept at all the previous night.

His thoughts were still swirling, but there was no turning back now. This battle had to be won.

I will win. For Mio.

But to do that, I must stay calm.

Through Leo’s relentless warnings and his own battle experience, Kiyoaki had learned the importance of keeping his cool. Every time he had fallen into danger, it was because he had gotten overconfident or let the thrill of another kill overheat his mind.

Abandon your emotions. Become steel. Be a machine, built only to bring down the enemy.

He repeated this to himself like a mantra.

“We move now. This is the turning point in our empire’s history. Show them the pride of the Voltec Air Squadron!” Leo’s command came through, and he increased his speed. A roar of affirmation filled the speakers as the rest of the squadron responded.

Kiyoaki opened his throttle, his eyes cold and clear as he focused on Kagura’s lead aircraft. On her left wing, Illia was flying right alongside her.

They were at an altitude of 5,500 meters, already flying high, but the enemy had taken up position even higher, around 6,000 meters, likely having studied their tactics from the day before. It wouldn’t be easy this time.

30 Ion fighters, descending from above, rushed down like an avalanche.

At the same time, enemy planes below were manoeuvring to flank them. Outnumbered, the Voltec Air Squadron would inevitably have enemies at their back, making the role of the wingmen crucial. Today, more than ever, Kiyoaki couldn’t afford to lose sight of Kagura.

Become a hunk of steel. For Kagura’s sake.

He drilled the resolve deep into his consciousness.

Through the descending swarm of enemy planes, he could make out the monstrous silhouette of the flying fortress.

Until I bring down that beast, I am nothing but steel.

In an instant, they collided with the enemy formation.

“Engage!”

“Let’s get them! This one’s for Jude!”

“Watch me, Glenda! I’ll make sure we win!”

The voices of his comrades filled the radio, mixed with the deafening roar of propellers. The steel hawks clashed, tearing the sky apart with hundreds of burning talons.

Outside the cockpit, the sky turned into a maelstrom of ash, flame, and tracer fire.

But Kiyoaki remained calm. He discarded all feelings, all thoughts except for Kagura’s tail and the surrounding enemy planes.

Kagura, too, had fallen silent on the radio, fully trusting Kiyoaki and Illia to cover her as she focused on pursuing the enemy.

Her plane’s guns flared, and an Ion fighter in front of her exploded in flames. The three of them flew through the fiery debris, not stopping to celebrate, immediately swinging into another sharp turn in pursuit of the next target.

Right flank, above. Enemy.

His instincts flared as he glanced upward. A descending Ion fighter was targeting Kagura. She hadn’t noticed. Kiyoaki pushed the throttle, turning upward to meet the attacker.

He didn’t need to destroy it. Just change its trajectory. He calmly aimed and fired a warning burst, forcing the enemy to swerve away.

“Kiyoaki, you saved me. I didn’t see that one.”

“Focus on taking them down. I’ll cover you.”

“Thanks. Let’s keep going.”

Kagura’s voice was steady. After yesterday’s battle, she had clearly grown more composed and effective.

As Kagura picked out another target and surged forward, Kiyoaki followed, becoming the beast of steel once again.

They tore through more flames, cutting through smoke trails and darting through the rapidly changing sky, Kiyoaki staying right with Kagura, guarding her every move.

How many enemies had Kagura shot down by now? He couldn’t tell. He only heard her cold voice over the radio, reporting another kill.

His only purpose was to guard her, to protect her from harm.

All around him, the clear morning sky had been tainted with the blood, flames, and smoke of countless dying lives.

Screams and names of fallen comrades echoed through the radio, but Kiyoaki blocked them out.

He could feel it—something foreign in the battlefield. A monstrous presence, beyond human, was lurking in the airspace. Though invisible, its killing intent brushed past Kiyoaki like a whisper, claiming his comrades one by one.

Abandon your humanity.

I am steel. I do not feel sadness.

Kiyoaki’s mind repeated this truth over and over. Losing control would mean death. It would mean failing to protect Kagura.

Steel doesn’t cry.

His eyes never left Kagura’s tail. This was not the time to grieve for fallen comrades. His sole mission was to stay with Kagura, to destroy the enemy, and to keep her safe.

No one will lay a finger on Kagura.

His mind focused solely on this.

“We’re pushing forward! Keep going!” Leo’s order rang out. The air battle was shifting—what had been a melee was now turning into a chase, as the Voltec Squadron began driving the scattered enemy back. Though outnumbered, their skill and coordination were overwhelming Uranos. The rigorous formation combat training they had endured was now paying off in full.

Leo’s squad surged toward the surface of the flying fortress, Kalkinos, with nearly thirty of their comrades following close behind. The enemy fighters had retreated westward to regroup, leaving roughly twenty in their wake. In a short time, the battle had been brought to a near stalemate.

Voltec Squadron really is the strongest!

Uranos had thrown nearly all their latest fighters into this battle, three times the number of the Voltec Squadron, but it had been for nothing. Kiyoaki couldn’t help but feel that Voltec was truly unmatched.

“Second fleet is arriving. The real battle starts now!”

Leo’s voice pulled Kiyoaki from his thoughts, and he glanced back.

There, on the horizon, the enormous Great Falls tore across the world.

Above it, sixteen flying warships, like massive whales in the sky, were advancing in perfect cube formation.

At the centre of the formation were the massive flying battleships Rivière and Red Deer, with their turrets already aimed skyward. Escort fighters from the first fleet flew around them, scanning for threats. It was clear that the second fleet was preparing to bombard the fortress with full force.

Kiyoaki turned his focus forward again.

The massive silhouette of the floating island now loomed directly before them.

The anti-aircraft guns mounted along the perimeter began their relentless barrage, a curtain of explosions and shrapnel unfurling in front of the Voltec Air Squadron. Yet, Leo didn’t flinch. He led the squadron into the storm. The island grew larger by the second, and in a flash, the azure sea below was replaced by the earth-toned landscape of the island’s surface.

Kalkinos, they had been told, spanned approximately 25 kilometres in length and 7.5 kilometres in width. A mountainous area, roughly 500 meters tall, sat on one side, with rivers flowing from its peaks, cascading over the island’s edge in thin streams, disappearing into the distant ocean below. Kiyoaki had seen this view from afar during the surprise assault on Air Hunt Island, but witnessing it now, from above, was breathtaking in its magnitude and detail.

Anti-aircraft guns, naval cannons, three airfields, two naval ports for flying vessels, and a range of Civilian infrastructure—waterworks, a desalination plant, roads, administrative districts, commercial centres with wide plazas, markets, orchards, parks, and residential areas—all revealed themselves in a single pass. It was a fortress, yes, but also a city, much like a medieval castle-town, fully self-sufficient with a closed economy.

This is just like Air Hunt Island. Ordinary people are living on this flying island!

Kiyoaki realized that while Kalkinos was a military stronghold, it was also a functioning city. A glimpse into the mysterious Uranos empire revealed a bit more—this aerial society lived in such places, with twelve flying cities and their capital, Pleiades. They controlled the ground through superior airpower, planting their people in satellite nations as colonizers. Kiyoaki could only speculate that while the Uranos people living on the ground formed a middle class, those in the skies were the elites, with the nobility residing in Pleiades.

If we could capture this fortress today, if we could recover documents, weapons, or even prisoners, we might finally unlock the secrets of Uranos.

Suddenly, Leo’s sharp voice cut through Kiyoaki’s thoughts.

“Incoming! They’re regrouping, left 120 degrees!” Leo shouted, pulling Kiyoaki back into the moment.

Kiyoaki turned in the direction indicated. Twenty or so enemy planes were closing in, ready to engage them again on the surface.

“Observer planes are up! Protect them!” Leo ordered.

Having secured air superiority, three of their observation planes had launched from the battleship’s catapult and were now flying over Kalkinos. At the same time, explosions erupted across the enemy’s airfields as the battleships Rivière and Red Deer opened fire with their 46 cm main guns. Their observation planes were helping correct fire, and soon the second volley would follow. Kalkinos returned fire, but in this three-dimensional space, the fast-moving Voltec ships had the upper hand. Furthermore, Uranos lacked observation planes due to their inferior airpower, giving the St Vault fleet a precision advantage.

The job of the Voltec Air Squadron now was to protect the observation planes at all costs. The battle would continue until the enemy surface defences were neutralized by their ships’ bombardment.

“There’s a skilled pilot in that group—the one who took down Jude and Glenda yesterday. Don’t let him near the observers!” Leo warned.

Kiyoaki’s senses heightened as he glanced toward the approaching enemy planes. He could feel it—something powerful and dangerous lurked among them. Though he hadn’t engaged it directly, one fighter moved with an inhuman level of skill, unlike anything he’d seen before.

Could it be…?

His instinct for battle flared hot.

If that’s who I think it is, I want to be the one to take him down!

“Kiyoaki, Illia, the priority is the observers,” Kagura’s voice cut through his battle-hungry thoughts. He realized, with a start, that he had been fixating on that dangerous presence instead of Kagura’s tail. Kagura must have sensed his thoughts and continued.

“I saw the black panther nose art. That’s Karnasion—the one who’s been taking down our comrades.”

The King of the Skies, Karnasion.

Kagura had already identified him among the enemy. In their last battle, Illia had lost a one-on-one duel with Karnasion and was forced to parachute out. Karnasion had toyed with her, circling her descent like a predator and searing the memory of his mocking gaze into her mind. Since then, Illia had been haunted by his face, suffering from insomnia.

Illia was likely scanning the air for Karnasion as well, driven by her need to redeem herself from that humiliation.

“Whatever happens, do not engage Karnasion. We cannot defeat him,” Kagura said firmly.

“……”

“Understood, Illia?” Kagura pressed.

“…Yes,” came Illia’s terse reply, but her frustration was palpable even through the radio. Kiyoaki understood that Kagura was right, though. Their skills weren’t enough to take on Karnasion. Every instinct Kiyoaki had told him so.

Leo’s voice then cut through the tension.

“We’ll handle the Black Panther. Hamilton’s squad and mine will hold him off. Six of us should be enough to keep him in check. The rest of you, focus on protecting the observers.”

“…Understood!” Kiyoaki and the others responded.

Leo and Hamilton’s squads, comprised of the finest pilots in the St Vault Naval Air Force, would engage Karnasion. With six against one, even Karnasion wouldn’t be able to act with impunity.

“Here they come! Sweep them aside!” Leo’s command roared through the speaker as the enemy fighters surged toward them. The Voltec Air Squadron pivoted to meet them in a vicious melee, the anti-aircraft fire from Kalkinos ceasing to avoid hitting their own planes.

The second fleet’s bombardment of the fortress intensified. The observation planes continued their delicate task of adjusting artillery fire, while the enemy’s Ion fighters desperately pushed toward them, trying to break through. The Voltec squadron threw themselves in the way, shielding the observation planes with their bodies, turning aside attack after attack.

Kiyoaki followed Kagura, shooting down enemy planes as they appeared in his sights, covering her every move. Then, suddenly, an enemy fighter rushed headlong at Kagura, seemingly out of nowhere.

Trailing closely behind the enemy was Leo’s squad—three planes—and Hamilton’s squad, another three.

“Karnasion!”

Kagura reacted instantly, pulling her plane into a sharp dive to evade the attack.

“Damn it!” Kiyoaki bit his lip and followed her in pursuit, but he noticed that Illia was falling behind.

“Illia, don’t!” Kagura shouted, her voice tinged with panic. Illia was holding her ground, waiting for Karnasion to engage.

Kiyoaki screamed into the radio, “Illia, stop! You can’t win!”

For a brief moment, Illia hesitated, his voice cutting through her focus. Then, with a frustrated growl, she banked away, pulling her plane back to Kagura’s side. Karnasion flew past them, leading the six Voltec planes on a high-speed chase.

Skimming just above the surface of Kalkinos, Kiyoaki’s squad pulled up, confirming that the observation planes were safe for now.

“You made the right choice, Illia,” Kagura said, her voice calm but full of relief.

Kagura praised Illia for calming down, but Illia’s voice over the radio was tinged with guilt.

“…I’m sorry. I got carried away,” Illia said.

“There will be another chance. Still, Karnasion’s skill is something else. Even with six of our best, they can’t pin him down…” Kagura replied.

Kiyoaki glanced back at the scene unfolding behind them. Karnasion was seemingly toying with the six elite pilots of St Vault, effortlessly evading their attacks like a dance of mockery. His manoeuvres resembled more an acrobat’s performance than traditional aerial combat. Instead of relying on speed, Karnasion manipulated his plane’s movements like a writhing worm, twisting and turning as he disrupted his own propeller’s thrust, keeping his plane airborne at low speeds. By doing this, he avoided gunfire while luring his enemies into his line of fire.

It was aerial combat like nothing Kiyoaki had ever seen—more a display of bizarre, serpentine flight patterns than a dogfight.

Is this… how the King of the Skies fights?

Even Master Akmed doesn’t fly like this… I’ve never seen anything like it…

Meanwhile, the second fleet’s bombardment continued. Kalkinos’s first airfield was now engulfed in flames, from the control tower to the hangars. The runway itself was riddled with craters and completely unusable. Under the cover of Voltec Air Squadron, the observation planes moved to the second airfield, guiding the next barrage of attacks.

The situation was dire for Kalkinos, as more and more of its defences were being obliterated. To compound the assault, thirty Seal Sailor bombers from the fortress of Chandler had arrived, each carrying one-ton bombs and two 500-kilogram bombs. These massive planes, though slow and vulnerable, were here to finish the job.

Two Voltec squadrons broke off to escort the bombers. Though the Ion fighters tried to disrupt the attack, the Voltec squadron shielded the lumbering bombers, protecting them with their lives.

Bombs fell on Kalkinos, targeting the anti-aircraft batteries. Explosions tore through the high-caliber guns, and thick black smoke began to choke the skies above the fortress. As Kiyoaki watched the devastation below, he understood the importance of controlling the skies.

This is what it means to win a war—whoever controls the air, controls the battle.

If the Voltec squadron hadn’t secured air superiority, the observation planes and bombers would have been easy prey for the Ion fighters. But thanks to their efforts, the ground forces now had free rein to rain destruction upon the fortress.

We can win this!

The remaining Ion fighters were barely holding their formations, with their once-proud forces now on the brink of collapse under Voltec’s relentless assault. However, one exception stood tall.

“Toby! Damn it, don’t go, Toby!” Hamilton’s voice echoed in despair through the speaker.

Kiyoaki’s eyes darted toward the scene.

Through the flames and smoke, he spotted a group of tangled fighters. One of them was trailing fire, its wings torn away, spiralling down toward the mountains of Kalkinos before smashing into the cliffs.

“Damn it, Toby!”

“Stay calm, Hamilton, they’re still coming!”

“Watch your six! You’re being targeted!”

“I’m taking this bandaged bastard down!”

The radio was filled with shouts, curses, and cries. It was clear—Karnasion had taken down another fighter, this time Toby’s. Even with five of St Vault’s finest pilots chasing him, Karnasion seemed invincible, continuing to take them down one by one.

To be able to not just evade, but defeat six elite pilots like this—it was clear why Karnasion was called the “King of the Skies.” His combat skills were simply on another level.

“Shouldn’t we support Captain Leo?” Illia’s voice came through, full of anger but also a desperation to stop the deaths of their comrades.

Kiyoaki hesitated for a moment before echoing the suggestion.

“The observation planes are secure. We should support them.”

Kagura didn’t respond immediately, prompting Kiyoaki to press further.

“The battle is already in our favour. There’s no need for more of our comrades to die.”

“I won’t take unnecessary risks. I’ll act as your shield if I have to—anything to minimize our losses,” Illia added, more insistent than usual.

After a pause, Kagura finally gave her order.

“…Alright. We’ll move to cover Captain Leo. But don’t take unnecessary risks. This is only support.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

The three of them, united as one, moved to assist Leo and his squadron.

The bombardment of Kalkinos continued to intensify, and the fortress itself shook from the relentless onslaught. The price in blood that Voltec Air Squadron had paid was now being returned in the form of certain victory. And with the tide turning, none of them wanted to see any more of their comrades fall.

Karnasion, meanwhile, was expertly using the mountainous terrain of Kalkinos to evade the remaining five fighters chasing him. He knew the layout of the ridges and valleys intimately, using them to weave in and out of their grasp, counterattacking whenever they pressed too hard. Leo and his team couldn’t afford to follow him too closely, as doing so risked crashing into the mountainside. It was clear—Karnasion was using the terrain to neutralize their numerical advantage.

“This is bad… our numbers are useless in this fight,” Kagura muttered over the radio.

Kiyoaki nodded in agreement. But even though the situation was grim, this was a golden opportunity. If they let Karnasion escape now, he would only continue to claim the lives of their comrades in future battles. They needed to eliminate him while they still had the upper hand in numbers.

Kagura’s plane took a position further back, trailing behind Leo’s squadron. She signalled her intention to provide cover as they chased Karnasion, keeping a height advantage of about 500 meters over the enemy ace.

From above, Karnasion looked like a serpent slithering along the mountainside. His erratic, low-speed movements were bizarre, constantly twisting and turning, as if mocking the efforts of those trying to take him down.

Hamilton, desperate to avenge his fallen wingman, was pushing hard to get Karnasion into his sights, but despite the eight planes surrounding him, Karnasion slipped away every time, his unpredictable movements making it impossible to lock onto him. Their superior speed was a disadvantage here—pressing too hard meant overshooting and exposing themselves to Karnasion’s counterattacks.

“This bastard… this bastard… damn it!” Hamilton’s curses were audible even over the chaos.

Hamilton’s furious curses came through the speaker, his voice shaking with rage. Having witnessed his close friend Toby’s destruction, it was clear that Hamilton could see nothing but Karnasion.

“Hamilton, calm down! He’s baiting you!” Leo’s warning fell on deaf ears. It was no use. Kiyoaki understood all too well—if Kagura or Illia had been shot down in front of him, he would likely be in the same blind rage as Hamilton.

Suddenly, Karnasion pulled his plane sharply to the right, exposing his side to Hamilton. It looked like a blatant mistake, as if Karnasion was inviting Hamilton to shoot him down.

“I’ve got you now…!” Hamilton’s voice rang out.

But in the next moment, a massive fireball erupted in the sky.

Shards of metal scattered like glittering fragments under the summer sun.

Karnasion emerged from the explosion, his nose pointing diagonally upward, sliding through the air in a seemingly impossible manoeuvre—a mocking acrobatic stunt that had no place in a battlefield.

Kiyoaki watched in stunned silence, mouth agape. Lulu’s scream broke through the radio.

“Hamilton! No, Hamilton!!”

“What just happened? What’s going on!?”

“It’s a hidden anti-air battery! There’s a flak gun hidden in the forest!”

Kiyoaki squinted and saw, right below where Hamilton had been shot down, the silvery glint of a long anti-aircraft gun barrel poking out from the mountainside, smoke still trailing from its muzzle. Karnasion had guided Hamilton right into the trap, knowing where the hidden gun was all along.

Without a scream, Hamilton’s plane shattered into countless pieces, raining down upon the hidden flak gun.

Hamilton, who used to laugh so heartily on the beach, had been reduced to nothing but debris. He had joined the military to pay off his family’s shoe store debt, hoping for a decent life after the war. But here he was, meeting a tragic end in a place so far removed from that dream.

“You bastard, you’re going to pay for this!” roared Sebastian, the last surviving member of Hamilton’s squadron. Lulu and Lala’s desperate voices overlapped on the radio.

“Don’t, Sebastian! Don’t chase him down!”

Leo shouted as well.

“Fall back! We don’t have the advantage! We can’t take him on!”

But none of their warnings reached Sebastian. With cries of rage, he pursued Karnasion.

“You took out Jude! You took out Hamilton! You bastard!!”

Kiyoaki knew how close the three of them had been. Always joking, drinking, and womanizing, but despite their crudeness, they had accepted him and Illia as comrades without hesitation. Their rough exterior masked a kindness at their core.

Kiyoaki could feel Sebastian’s fury, deep in his own heart.

But…

You can’t beat Karnasion.

Sebastian will die too.

“Fall back, Sebastian! It’s frustrating, it’s painful, but this situation is too dangerous!”

Kiyoaki knew his words would likely not reach him, but he couldn’t stay silent. He couldn’t bear to see any more of his comrades die. The battle was already won—there was no need for further bloodshed.

But Sebastian ignored the calls to retreat, desperately swerving left and right as he chased Karnasion, who led him into a canyon.

“Stop, get out of there!” Leo’s voice pleaded, but Sebastian was lost in his fury.

From above, Kiyoaki saw Karnasion abruptly straighten his flight path, an odd move for someone who had been twisting and turning just moments before.

Sebastian took the bait, pressing his advantage.

But just ahead of him, the canyon walls loomed, jagged and unforgiving.

“Pull up!” Kiyoaki screamed.

Too late.

Sebastian’s plane burst into flames as it collided with the canyon wall, exploding into a grotesque ball of fire. Shards of metal and bits of flesh were scattered across the blue sky.

Karnasion had deliberately lured Sebastian into the canyon, knowing the terrain intimately. The sudden curve in the canyon had trapped Sebastian, who couldn’t pull up in time. Karnasion, aware of the danger, had accelerated just enough to force Sebastian into the rock face.

This brutal, unforgiving sky didn’t allow for any emotional mistakes—not even when a friend or loved one was shot down right in front of you. To survive, you had to remain calm, no matter the cost.

Karnasion continued to ascend, as if mocking his pursuers, soaring higher and higher into the summer sky.

The radio was filled with screams and curses, voices too garbled to understand. The collective anguish, fury, and despair weighed down on the battlefield.

Karnasion began to trace an unusual curve in the sky.

He climbed slowly, still twisting and turning like a worm writhing through the air. It was an ugly, unsightly manoeuvre, lacking the elegance typically associated with aerial combat.

The sky itself seemed to be defiled by Karnasion’s grotesque flight.

It was a horrifying sight. Kiyoaki couldn’t even begin to fathom how anyone could bring down such an opponent. Karnasion’s presence felt like an insurmountable force—a true King of the Skies.

If we chase him, we’ll be shot down.

Kiyoaki’s hands trembled as they gripped the control stick. He had never felt such fear while flying before.

“Enough! Don’t chase him. We can’t win!” Leo’s decisive voice cut through the chaos.

Normally, Leo would never issue such a defeatist command, but after witnessing Karnasion’s mastery of the skies, there was no choice but to agree.

“We’ve lost enough. The battle is over—we’re heading back!”

Leo turned his plane away from the battlefield, leaving Karnasion behind. Lulu and Lala hesitated for a moment, but they too followed Leo’s lead.

Everyone felt the same frustration. They all wanted revenge. But they knew chasing Karnasion would only lead to more losses. No matter how much it hurt, they had to maintain their composure.

“Let’s go, Kiyoaki. We may have lost to Karnasion, but we’ve won the battle,” Kagura urged.

Kiyoaki banked his plane and followed Kagura’s lead, turning his back on Karnasion. The enemy ace made no move to pursue, simply continuing his hideous dance in the sky, likely revelling in his victory.

I’ll get you someday. I swear, I’ll shoot you down.

For all our fallen comrades—I will take you down!

With that vow burning in his heart, Kiyoaki followed Leo, heading back to the carrier Raven as the battle finally came to an end.

The First Air Fleet, centred around regular carriers, launched repeated attacks on the flying fortress Kalkinos. Due to heavy losses, Kiyoaki and the Voltec Air Squadron were tasked with the less dangerous mission of mopping up the remaining enemies on the surface. After an hour, the Ions had disappeared, and the skies above the decisive battle were fully under the control of the St Vault Air and Naval Forces.

Kalkinos’ defensive facilities were almost completely neutralized by heavy bombers and the Second Fleet’s bombardment. By 4 PM, two thousand paratroopers began descending from airships, marking the first airborne assault on a flying fortress in the history of the St Vault forces. With aerial support, the paratroopers engaged in fierce land battles with Uranos ground troops, struggling to establish a foothold.

The battle continued well into the night. Airships dropped bullets and building materials as the paratroopers, guiding naval artillery by radio, worked to establish defensive strongpoints for the next wave of reinforcements. By 1 AM, after securing a section of the right bank, landing craft equipped with hoisting gear rushed in, bringing in a total of twenty thousand ground troops, who finally set foot on the surface of Kalkinos.

Realizing the dire situation, Kalkinos’ commander, Lysander Kepler, quickly burned important documents, blew up the city hall and central command, and retreated to an underground bunker with his personal guards. This rendered Kalkinos inoperable, leaving it to drift at 2,000 meters altitude, carried by the wind.

The remaining Uranos forces fought bravely. Combatants entrenched themselves in underground facilities, while even the civilian residents of Kalkinos, despite being non-combatants, armed themselves with rifles and automatic weapons, retreating into the mountainous areas, refusing to surrender.

Two days after the landing, by 10 AM, St Vault ground forces had seized the naval ports, airfields, and all anti-aircraft batteries. However, Uranos regular forces and militia continued their guerilla resistance from mountain hideouts and undiscovered underground facilities.

A week after the landing, while continuing to mop up the remnants, St Vault forces discovered and stormed the underground command centre on Kalkinos’ right bank. The entrenched Uranos soldiers resisted until the end, with all 25 of them killed in action. The defeated Lysander activated the self-destruct switches for Kalkinos’ propulsion system and rudders before placing a gun to his temple and pulling the trigger.

The next morning, the St Vault Naval Air Operations Command declared the completion of Operation “Thundersteel.” The series of sea and air battles near the Great Waterfall was named the Battle of Sierra Greed, and the captured flying fortress Kalkinos was renamed Odin. Research into its operational capabilities began, aiming to make it the primary force for controlling the Archipelago.

The Battle of Sierra Greed resulted in the destruction of 80% of the Uranos-Hydrabard Alliance’s naval forces in the South Archipelago Sea. Though fortresses on the islands remained, having lost control of the seas, it was nearly impossible for them to halt the St Vault advance.

The course of the Hydrabard War had been decided.

At the same time, it signalled the beginning of a new struggle for dominance over the Archipelago Sea.

Kiyoaki and the rest of the Voltec Air Squadron completed their relocation to the third airfield of the flying fortress Odin two days after Lysander’s death. With its propulsion system and rudders destroyed, Odin remained anchored to a nameless islet in the Sierra Greed Sea, floating aimlessly. It was estimated that it would take at least two years to develop St Vault-made propulsion and rudder systems, leaving Odin stranded as a mere floating island for the foreseeable future.

“Well, it’s a great place for a drink. The view’s not bad either,” Macguire said, stretching out his left hand toward the drifting clouds while downing a beer in his right.

The sunset from the edge of the island, floating at an altitude of 2,000 meters, bathed the scene in soft pink hues, soothing the exhausted airmen. The straight horizon stretched endlessly, fading into the distance and gradually swallowed by the encroaching night.

Of the 45 Voltec airmen who participated in six successive attacks over two days, 25 had fallen. Today, all the fallen had been posthumously awarded the Saint Petersburg Medal of Valor, with each promoted two ranks to the status of lieutenants.

Now, all 115 members of the Voltec Squadron gathered near the runway of the third airfield for a memorial party. Always quick to find a reason to celebrate, even now their gathering was not sombre, with many singing loudly to the radio’s music and sharing stories about their fallen comrades.

Twenty-five makeshift gravestones, crafted from iron stakes, stood along the side of the runway. Female airmen had laid bouquets at each grave, tying the dog tags of the deceased to the markers. Survivors drank and shared stories with the silent dead.

“You should’ve cleaned up before the sortie, you know. You left some pretty embarrassing stuff lying around,” Macguire muttered as he placed a stack of vulgar magazines beside Jude’s grave and took a drink.

“And terrible taste, too… What is this? Never seen something like this before. You really had a thing for this stuff, huh?”

Macguire flipped through the dirty magazines with mock disgust, complaining as he did. He clearly preferred light-hearted banter over sinking into grief, even as he occasionally wiped his eyes.

While the families of the deceased would receive pensions and government benefits, it was painfully obvious that money would never replace the loved ones they had lost. Hamilton’s family would likely be able to pay off their shoe store’s debts, and Jude’s sick brother could afford hospital care, but no amount of money could ease the pain of their loss.

Though they had won the decisive battle, Kiyoaki couldn’t shake the deep sadness weighing on his heart, burdened by the deaths of those closest to him.

Just then, Lulu and Lala came up on either side of Kiyoaki, offering cheerful smiles and paper cups filled with cheap wine.

“Don’t be so gloomy, Kiyoaki! Come on, drink up!”

“Jude, Hamilton, and Sebastian all hated being serious. They’d want us to keep things light and fun.”

The two women smiled brightly, and Kiyoaki took the paper cup without a word, taking a sip. Kagura had mentioned that, after the battle, Lulu and Lala had sobbed openly in the women’s quarters aboard the Raven. They had known the fallen far longer than Kiyoaki, and their grief must have been far deeper. Yet here they were, putting on brave faces to lift the spirits of others. Wanting to respond to their kindness, Kiyoaki forced a smile.

“Yeah… you’re right. I’ll try.”

“That’s the spirit! We never know when our time’s up, so we might as well enjoy it while we can!”

“Yeah, I’ll do my best.”

Though his cheer was far from genuine, Kiyoaki downed the rest of the wine in one gulp. Lulu and Lala linked arms with him, giggling.

“Aww, Kiyoaki is so cute!”

“If you ever need an older sister to comfort you, come sneak into our quarters, okay?”

“Here, have more to drink! You’re going to be the next ace, after all! Even the captain was impressed!”

Embarrassed, Kiyoaki tried to downplay the praise.

“It was thanks to Kagura’s leadership… I wasn’t even keeping track of my kill count.”

“Don’t be so modest! You had the second-highest number of kills, right after Macguire. That’s amazing! You even outdid the captain!”

Lulu was referring to the recently announced confirmed kill count for the Voltec Squadron. After the air battle, each pilot had reported their kill count, which was then cross-checked with the reconnaissance aircraft’s reports. Kiyoaki had been credited with six confirmed kills, second only to Macguire’s seven, but most of the squadron assumed there had been a mistake. Kiyoaki himself had lost track during the heat of battle and wasn’t convinced of the count either.

“I’m sure it was a mistake. I was so focused on covering Kagura that I don’t remember shooting down that many.”

As Kiyoaki spoke humbly, a hand suddenly patted him on the head. Looking up, he saw Leo, the squadron’s ace, holding a beer with his usual sombre expression.

“That’s not necessarily true. You probably did shoot that many down.”

Leo clinked his bottle against Kiyoaki’s cup, downed his beer, wiped his mouth, and asked quietly:

“You don’t remember the battle clearly, do you?”

“Honestly, it’s all a blur. I have flashes of memory, but nothing continuous. I don’t think I was particularly calm, either.”

“You were calm. In fact, you scared me a little.”

“Huh?”

It was a surprising admission. Leo was the top ace of the St Vault Naval Air Force. For him to say such a thing to a rookie like Kiyoaki seemed far too generous. Bewildered, Kiyoaki listened as Leo continued.

“If you keep gaining experience, you and Illia will soon surpass me and become the aces of St Vault. There’s a realm in the sky that can’t be reached through effort alone… It’s a cruel reality.”

“……………………”

“That’s where Karnasion and Akmed live. They’re dragons, while I’m just a hawk. No matter how much a hawk tries, it can’t beat a dragon.”

“That’s not true… I believe the Voltec Squadron is the strongest in the world. Even against dragons, with coordinated teamwork, we can shoot them down.”

“No, you can’t. Even if you sent a hundred planes after them, they wouldn’t fall. They’ve mastered a way of flying that we can’t match. You saw what happened over Kalkinos. That wasn’t human. Hamilton, Jude, and Sebastian wouldn’t have acted so recklessly if they’d realized they were up against a dragon…”

Leo’s voice was thick with regret. He was clearly blaming himself for the deaths of his subordinates, carrying the weight of their loss.

Kiyoaki didn’t know what to say, standing frozen in place. But, as usual, Lulu and Lala broke the tension with their bright smiles, slipping their arms around Leo and pulling him into the dancing crowd.

“Come on, Captain! It’s no use dwelling on it now—let’s just have fun!”

“You don’t want to go back home with such a gloomy face, do you? Your wife will be heartbroken!”

“Let’s dance! We can even listen to the radio from Akitsu! Come on!”

Teasing their commanding officer with their usual carefree banter, they dragged Leo into the music, and soon everyone was laughing and bumping into each other as they danced. The shortwave radio from the Akitsu Federation played selections from “Misa Rose,” a beloved female DJ, and the group swayed to the foreign music, celebrating their fallen comrades with joy rather than sorrow.

Kiyoaki looked around, searching for Illia. For some reason, he felt an overwhelming urge to speak with her. Eventually, he spotted her kneeling by one of the graves, away from the lively crowd.

“Illia,” he called out.

“…Yeah.”

When Kiyoaki called out to her, Illia, still kneeling on the ground, turned her sorrowful gaze from the tombstone to him.

Her fiery red hair fluttered in the wind. In her eyes, as she looked up at him, he could see the pain she was carrying.

“…Are you okay? I mean… you don’t look so well.”

“…Is that so…? Yeah…”

She replied vaguely, and then turned her gaze back to the tombstone. When he looked closely, he saw it was Corina’s grave. It seemed Illia still believed that Corina’s death was her fault.

It was a painful sight. Kiyoaki knew that words couldn’t save her. All he could do was share in her pain.

Kiyoaki knelt down next to Illia, on her right side. Then, in the St Vault style, he clasped his hands together and prayed for the deceased. As he glanced around, he noticed that Illia had placed flowers on all the tombstones.

“…The death of someone close weighs heavy.”

After a while, Illia finally spoke. Kiyoaki nodded.

“Yeah. As soldiers, we were prepared for it… but it still feels incredibly heavy.”

“As long as the fighting continues, people will keep dying. I always thought it was just how things were… but I never knew it could be this painful and sad. I never understood that.”

“…Neither did I. I thought I understood it in my head, but when you actually experience it… it’s truly hard. You don’t know what to do with all the sadness.”

Illia lowered her long eyelashes. Kiyoaki hoped that sharing the same feelings would bring her some comfort. At the same time, he realized just how kind and gentle Illia was, mourning the deaths of their comrades. When he had first met her in Eriadore, he thought she was cold, mechanical, and emotionless, but in truth, she was delicate, easily hurt, and cared deeply for her comrades.

Then, Kagura sat down beside Illia on her left. She placed a hundred lilies on the tombstone, clasped her hands, and prayed.

“Not feeling sadness anymore… that would be more dangerous. Before we are soldiers, we are human. It’s okay to mourn each death fully.”

Kagura spoke quietly, still looking at Glenda’s grave.

“Mourn deeply, grieve, and be grateful… then we fight again. To end this war as soon as possible.”

Kiyoaki and Illia nodded in silence. Kagura’s words, more than anyone else’s, settled deep within them, resting in the pit of their stomachs.

They were still able to feel the sorrow of their comrades’ deaths. No matter how difficult the battles ahead might be, they wanted to hold onto that humanity, that ability to grieve.

The sun sank into the distant horizon. The golden hues of the setting sun began to envelop the world. From an altitude of two thousand meters, the golden tapestry of the sky gradually shifted in colour as time passed. Just as no two sunsets are ever the same, tomorrow would bring a new sunset, one they had never seen before. Kiyoaki prayed that all of them here would be able to look upon that new sunset together.

Kagura interrupted Kiyoaki’s thoughts with a quiet remark.

“…Kiyoaki, I’ve heard some bad news. I hope it’s just a rumour… but I think you should know.”

“…?”

“Do you know about the war between the Akitsu army and Urano on Messus Island, Odessa? After the capture of the flying fortress Balsinos, they plan to land in Odessa, right?”

“Yes. Of course, I know. But I haven’t heard any updates about the battle…”

“…It’s only a rumour, but apparently, things are getting messy. Since the Battle of Sierra Greed went far better than expected, part of the Second Fleet was sent as reinforcements, but they’re not coordinating at all with the Akitsu army…”

Kagura continued, her tone full of concern. From what she had heard, the St Vault Military Operations Command sent reinforcements to the Odessa region without much coordination, launching a fierce bombardment on the flying fortress Balsinos. The battle was still ongoing, and there were even plans to send the landing force that had successfully captured Kalkinos to Balsinos next.

“The course of the Hydrabard campaign has been decided. With the loss of their main navy and the capture of Urano’s flying fortress, Hydrabard has no power left to fight. If St Vault offers them surrender terms, they’ll likely raise the white flag. But before that happens, it seems like the St Vault Operations Command wants to secure Balsinos.”

Kagura’s concern made sense to Kiyoaki. The damage to Kalkinos’ propulsion system meant it would take years to be operational again. If the Akitsu Federation captured Balsinos intact, the balance of power in the archipelago would shift, leaving only St Vault and Akitsu in control.

And if—St Vault were to possess both flying fortresses, the question of who would dominate the archipelago would be settled. With two flying fortresses supporting their powerful mobile fleet, no other force in the region could match them.

For St Vault, which had always been threatened by the Harmonia Empire to the north, securing all of the archipelago’s oil and mineral resources had been a national goal since its founding. Now that the “Kukuana Line” complex fortress had been completed along their border with Harmonia, the need for a military alliance with the Akitsu Federation was diminishing. Moreover, with Hydrabard’s navy destroyed after the Battle of Sierra Greed, diplomacy alone could end the conflict.

However, the St Vault government had been issuing deficit bonds for the past two years, implementing massive tax hikes, and spending thirty percent of the national budget on the Hydrabard campaign. They were building over a dozen new aircraft carriers, producing ten thousand aircraft per month, and training over thirty thousand pilots. With this vast amount of resources dedicated to the war effort, it seemed unlikely they would allow the archipelago to remain divided between themselves and the Akitsu Federation. Having amassed such military power under the pretext of the Hydrabard campaign, St Vault might now turn its attention to fulfilling its long-standing ambition of conquering the archipelago, and direct its sword at the Akitsu Federation. In this age dominated by imperialism, such a scenario was all too possible.

“If they break the alliance easily, it would damage the country’s reputation. St Vault isn’t that reckless of a nation, are they?”

“It’s a matter of choosing between appearances and practicality. In these times, there are countless ways to justify breaking an alliance.”

Kagura and Kiyoaki’s participation as allied forces in the St Vault military had been intended to demonstrate the enduring friendship between their two nations to the surrounding states. However, with no more enemies to demonstrate that friendship against, what remained was the looming confrontation between two great powers: St Vault and the Akitsu Federation, facing each other across the archipelago.

—If the alliance were to be broken, what would happen to me and Kagura?

That unsettling thought exploded in his mind. It was a situation he didn’t want to imagine, but if it came to that, there was no way they would escape unscathed. After all, they had studied St Vault’s military strategy and learned the inner workings of the most powerful fighter squadron, the Voltec Air Corps…

At that moment, a voice interrupted Kiyoaki’s train of thought.

“Oh, come on, why so gloomy? Lighten up a bit, why don’t you try enjoying yourself like the others?”

It was Reiner, his voice light and carefree as he approached. He handed Kiyoaki a beer bottle, while raising a bottle of wine in a toast.

“No point in sulking around. Let’s just get drunk and switch gears. There aren’t any more big battles ahead, so let’s relax and have some fun, yeah?”

Reiner said this casually, then passed a paper cup filled with wine to both Kagura and Illia. Kiyoaki took a small sip of beer and nodded along.

“…Yeah, you’re right. I do need to switch my mindset.”

“Exactly! For once, you’re being sensible. Kagura, Illia, come on, let’s sing and dance to remember the fallen. They’d prefer we keep our spirits high, right?”

Encouraged by Reiner, Illia and Kagura also nodded and stood up.

“You’re right… we need to keep our spirits up.”

“This is where your personality comes in handy. There’s no point in looking back with regret. We should face forward!”

Kagura stood tall with resolve and walked over to join the lower-ranking officers, who were already in the midst of singing and dancing. Illia followed closely behind her, joining the lively group. Reiner watched them go with a smirk, then turned back to Kiyoaki.

“Come on, you too. Stop moping around.”

“Yeah… Reiner.”

Kiyoaki downed the rest of his beer and locked eyes with Reiner.

Maybe it was the alcohol talking.

No, it was more than that.

He had been suppressing his feelings for a long time, but he couldn’t hold them back any longer.

“I need to talk to you.”

Kiyoaki spoke earnestly to his friend.

“…? What’s with the serious tone all of a sudden?”

Reiner raised an eyebrow in confusion.

Kiyoaki couldn’t contain the emotion that was surging within him.

The voices of his fallen comrades echoed in his mind. He remembered the columns of water rising from the ocean, and the oily blooms spreading across the surface, all vivid in his memory.

Could those sacrifices really not have been avoided?

Was there no way to have minimized those losses?

“Can we go somewhere private? Just the two of us.”

Reiner gave Kiyoaki a strange look, but seeing that his friend’s expression was unwavering, he shrugged his shoulders.

“Ugh… Don’t tell me this is going to be one of those heavy talks. I’m really not in the mood for that.”

“It’s not like that. I just need to ask you something. Let’s go over there.”

Kiyoaki led Reiner to a secluded part of the island, away from the runway and the others.

With an exasperated sigh, Reiner reluctantly followed Kiyoaki into the dimly lit area.

“If this is some kind of love confession, I swear I’ll push you off the edge.”

“I’m serious, Reiner. I hope I’m just overthinking this.”

“Oh yeah? Sounds interesting. Let’s hear it.”

The two stopped at the edge of the floating island, facing each other.

There was no one around. In the distance, the remnants of the sunset were still blazing red across the sky. A few steps to the right, and one could fall straight off the island and plummet two thousand meters down to the sea below.

Kiyoaki fixed his gaze on Reiner.

His friend, bathed in the lingering glow of the sunset, had turned his face lazily toward the ocean, as if this conversation were more of a chore than anything.

—I’m about to ask something terrible.

—But I can’t just ignore it anymore.

—If I’m wrong, I’ll be glad.

Kiyoaki steeled himself and began.

“…A while back, when Air Hunt Island was attacked by Urano’s flying fortress, we were at the observation deck, right? We saw the fortress together.”

“…Yeah. I remember. Then the military police suddenly showed up and arrested Mio.”

“Right. But just before that… Mio turned away from the fortress and asked you, ‘What have I done?’ Didn’t she?”

Reiner still looked disinterested, staring off to the side. But in the depths of his gaze, Kiyoaki noticed a flicker of something unusual.

“You said something to her, didn’t you? Something like, ‘Your normal life is over.’ That’s how Mio sounded at the time. Then the military police came, and we were all thrown into confusion. But what I want to know is… what did Mio’s words mean?”

Reiner continued to stare out at the sea for a while.

Then, he sighed and scratched the back of his head.

“…How the hell would I know? Mio was a spy for Urano. There’s no way to know now what a spy was thinking when she got close to me.”

“Yeah… That’s true.”

“That’s it? What a pointless conversation. I wanted to make a bigger fuss.”

“…And after that, you went to the police station to bring Mio back, right? But by then, she had already escaped, and there were dead police officers around…”

“Yeah. The questioning after that was a real pain.”

“Two of the officers had their necks broken by hand, right? The investigator concluded that Mio did it, but… I can’t believe Mio had that kind of ability. As far as I know, Mio doesn’t have those kinds of skills.”

“How should I know? She’s a spy. Of course, she had secret killing techniques.”

“Yeah… I still think it’s impossible, though…”

“I get that you want to defend Mio, but you didn’t even know her family were spies, right? You’ve been deceived for a long time, so it’s about time you woke up.”

“………………”

“You can dwell on Mio all you want, but don’t drag me into it. It’s a pain to deal with. Later.”

As Reiner was about to turn on his heel, Kiyoaki raised one hand to stop him.

“I still have more questions.”

“What now?”

“A while back… Toward the end of our third year at the officer academy. When Kagura and I were accepted into the St Vault military as allied forces, I reported it to you… I wanted to become your friend and tried to shake your hand, but you refused…”

Reiner’s expression stiffened for a moment. Perhaps he realized what Kiyoaki was about to ask.

Behind his eyelids, the memory of the unusually clear blue sky behind Reiner at that time came flooding back.

It hurt so much.

“And then you said something strange. ‘If anyone ever betrays you from now on, you’re allowed to hate them.’”

Reiner slowly turned his gaze back to Kiyoaki.

Kiyoaki saw something unsettling writhing deep within Reiner’s expression.

It was Reiner, and yet not Reiner—something else, a different kind of person, was slowly emerging from within his friend.

But Kiyoaki couldn’t be intimidated.

Because he thought of Reiner as his friend. He couldn’t just pretend not to notice and let things go on as they were.

“Yeah… I might have said something like that. Just a general comment, though, a general comment. You’re naive, you know? You’ve probably never been betrayed by anyone before, right? You’re too soft, so I was just offering some grown-up advice. I don’t know what you’re doubting me about, but you should be thankful.”

Reiner spat out his words with irritation.

But Kiyoaki continued.

“When we flew the airship Eriadore through enemy territory… After the nighttime water landing, when we all made it back safely, I talked with Illia… And it seemed like someone who knew more about handling airships than any of us had to have been aboard. Just before we were about to fail the landing due to a strong crosswind, someone in the back knocked over the communication equipment, restoring the balance.”

“………………”

“At that time, Mio was incapacitated from blood loss, so it could only have been Kagura, Balthazar, Cecil, or you who were behind us. One of you was hiding some incredible piloting skills. There’s no way the equipment just happened to fall over at the perfect moment, shifting the centre of gravity and leveling the ship by pure coincidence.”

“………………”

“The same thing happened during the firefight with Gorgona. Someone fired a shot that miraculously pierced Gorgona’s cockpit. Without that, the Eriadore would’ve been shot down right then and there…”

Kiyoaki fixed his sincere gaze on Reiner.

—Reiner has saved us countless times.

He was sure of it. During the surprise attack on Air Hunt Island, Reiner must have known about the attack and led everyone to safety at the observation deck.

—If Reiner hadn’t been there, I would be dead by now.

He knew that too. That’s why, even though he had his doubts, he never confronted him.

But his hesitation had reached its limit.

Right here, right now, Kiyoaki wanted Reiner to deny the suspicions he had been carrying for so long.

“You once beat Illia in a mock aerial battle. It wasn’t luck or coincidence. It was your skill, Reiner. That’s what I believe.”

A cold, dry wind swept between the two of them. Amidst the chilly high-altitude air, there was a faint scent of oil and gunpowder.

Having questioned Reiner like this, their relationship could no longer be the same. The memories of joking around in the officers’ quarters, riding bikes together, racing across Air Hunt Island until dawn, and chatting at the harbor in the morning all flashed through Kiyoaki’s mind.

Even now, he thought of Reiner as his friend.

But because of that, he had to get to the truth.

“Are you hiding some kind of superhuman ability?”

Kiyoaki saw something stir deep within Reiner’s eyes.

A pale, mist-like aura seemed to rise from Reiner’s silhouette.

—Switch with me.

The Hachidori was trying to drag Reiner out of the seat of his consciousness.

But Reiner wouldn’t give up his place. With all his strength, he held the Hachidori back.

"We need to keep watching for now."

—He’s already realized who I am.

—Switch. It’ll be over in an instant.

"If I do that, I’ll be the one they suspect."

—If we let him live, I’ll be the one in danger. Switch! Switch with me!

Though the Hachidori urged him, Reiner clung to the seat of his consciousness, refusing to yield. This was the first time he had ever experienced something like this.

"Damn it, I showed too many cards, thinking he was just an idiot. He may act like a fool, but he’s no one to underestimate."

Reiner now understood why Illia had called Kiyoaki the “Black Rabbit.” He had pretended to be oblivious, all the while carefully observing everything.

Kiyoaki spoke again.

“I didn’t want to ask you something like this… But I can’t just stand by and watch as more of our comrades die. If someone is leaking information to Urano… then it’s my duty to stop them.”

—I’ll kill him.

The Hachidori resolved itself, and forcibly began to pull Reiner out of the seat of his consciousness.

“Run, Kiyoaki.”

Reiner barely managed to say that before his consciousness sank deep within.

Taking control of the body, the Hachidori opened its eyes.

Then it curled the fingers of its right hand into a claw.

Kiyoaki stood frozen, staring directly at the Hachidori before him.

As the Hachidori raised its right hand toward Kiyoaki’s throat—

“!?“

The Hachidori’s eyes widened in shock.

From the darkness behind Kiyoaki, a dozen or so military police officers approached in formation, their stern faces echoing with the sound of their boots as they marched forward.

It was clear they were about to carry out their duties.

—Had they already been tipped off?

The Hachidori’s right hand stopped. Quick thoughts raced through its mind.

—Even if I kill all the military police, this is a floating island. There’s nowhere to escape.

—I’ve been trapped by Sakagami.

Realizing it had been too careless, it was already too late for regrets.

In Hachidori’s vision, an image of a mother sitting alone in a decrepit house, clutching an old photograph, floated into view.

—Mother.

At that moment of regret, the military police’s formation halted.

The Hachidori readied itself for a final stand.

At this point, there was only one thing left to do: use every combat skill it had honed to kill as many military police officers as possible, steal their weapons, and gamble on the slim chance of escape.

Resolving itself to this course of action, the officer at the head of the formation, likely their captain, addressed Kiyoaki.

“Sakagami Kiyoaki, correct?”

Kiyoaki, caught off guard, turned his gaze to the captain.

“…Yes? That’s me, but…”

Two officers grabbed Kiyoaki by both arms, placing a handcuff on one wrist.

“What, what are you…!?”

Kiyoaki’s shock was evident.

Right in front of them, Hachidori also turned its widened eyes to the captain.

The captain solemnly announced:

“The Akitsu Federation has just opened hostilities with the St Vault Empire.”

The impossible words spilled from the captain’s mouth.

“The Emperor of St Vault has declared extraordinary measures. From today, all Akitsu nationals residing in the Empire are to be relocated to internment camps. No charges or warrants are necessary—being Akitsu itself is a crime in our country. Neither you nor Kagura are exceptions.”

Kiyoaki’s mouth fell open in astonishment.

Hachidori noticed a commotion in the distance. Peering into the darkness, it saw another group of military police gathered, where non-commissioned officers were raising a fuss.

At the centre of the commotion, Kagura was there, handcuffed behind her back. The non-commissioned officers were angrily confronting the military police, demanding to know the reason for her capture.

The military police began dragging Kiyoaki away, ignoring his struggles as he twisted his body and shouted out.

“No… There must be some mistake! Akitsu would never do something like this!”

The military police jeered at him, responding loudly.

“Our airborne units were wiped out by a sudden artillery barrage from the Akitsu fleet as we tried to land in Odessa. In Balsinos, Urano, St Vault, and Akitsu forces are locked in a three-way battle. The Second Archipelago War has begun, and all Akitsu monkeys will be slaughtered!”

The military police laughed as they violently tousled Kiyoaki’s head, treating him like an enemy foreigner.

Twenty-some years ago, the Archipelago War was fought between the St Vault Empire and the Akitsu Federation. That detested history was now repeating itself in the same battleground.

Kiyoaki’s face contorted as he turned his gaze to Kagura, who was being captured, and shouted.

“Kagura…!! Kagura!!”

“There’s been some mistake, Kiyoaki. The misunderstanding will clear up soon, so stay calm and keep your head down…!!”

Kagura’s desperate plea was met with uproarious laughter from the military police. The non-commissioned officers surrounded them, angrily pressing for answers, but were being ignored.

From a nearby radio, the familiar, playful voice of Miyo Rose came through.

“St Vault soldiers, are you listening to this broadcast? It seems we’ll be fighting you soon. The Samurai Boys are eagerly waiting for you. Say goodbye to your families and lovers, then come on down to Odessa on Messus Island.”

The radio switched to playing the funeral march of the Akitsu Federation. Knowing that St Vault soldiers would be listening, the broadcast aimed to demoralize them.

With Rose’s voice in the background, Kiyoaki and Kagura were tightly surrounded by the military police and led away to an unknown destination.

The Hachidori stood there in stunned silence, watching them go.

—Am I… saved?

That much, it barely understood. Its streak of bad luck hadn’t run out yet, it seemed.

—Mother…

With silent gratitude, Hachidori watched as Kiyoaki and Kagura were led into the darkness before blending back into the circle of non-commissioned officers with a casual air.

Part 7

I still haven’t gotten used to the wind in this city.

The cold, crisp winds that blow through the high altitudes. The distant atmosphere, where you can barely feel the breath of the people. Even the street trees, clearly not native to this city, seem to reach their green branches uncomfortably toward the too-close sky.

The capital of Urano, Pleiades.

According to Urano mythology, it was prophesied to one day rule over heaven and earth, this giant floating city in the sky.

As you walk along its streets, clouds pass right by you. Even when the sky brightens, the sun rises late, and the afterglow lingers long after sunset. The scenery changes as the island constantly moves, offering an ever-shifting view—one month, you might gaze out over the open sea, and the next, you might be overlooking a rugged mountain range and red earth.

Daily life isn’t much different from ground-based cities. The city’s infrastructure is well-developed, with large seawater distillation plants ensuring a stable water supply. Since the city itself is mobile and armed, transportation costs for long-distance trade are kept low, generating enormous profits for the island over time.

With a total length of 55 kilometres, a width of 24 kilometres, and a circumference of 220 kilometres, it takes about four hours to drive around the island’s outer ring road. The island is the pinnacle of Urano’s civilization. In the Evangelis district, where the royal palace and government offices are located, a vibrant marketplace is lined with colourful storefronts, and the wide streets are bustling with smiling citizens and the laughter of children. Most residents of Evangelis are wealthy, and their bright clothing and loose wallets make for a lively market filled with spices, meats, seafood, fruits, silks, carpets, and dazzling ornaments from all over the world.

—A paradise in the sky.

That rhetoric, which I’ve heard countless times since coming to Pleiades, echoes faintly in my ears.

I’ve even forgotten how to sigh.

Mio Syira shut the curtains on the view of Pleiades spreading out below her. The cheerful, clear view only irritated her now that she had lost her heart. She wanted to live curled up in a dark room, turning her back on her own existence.

But the situation wouldn’t allow even that small desire to be fulfilled.

“Do you not need the sunlight? I don’t mind. Now, let’s go over things again. Stab my right eye with that fountain pen.”

The female tutor, a woman in her fifties who looked emaciated, commanded something violent in an eerily calm voice.

Mio gripped the fountain pen in her right hand.

Without hesitation, she approached the tutor and, as she passed by, reversed her grip and aimed the pen’s tip at the woman’s right eye.

“Your bloodlust is too obvious. Your left foot is too slow to step in.”

The tutor grabbed Mio’s wrist and criticized her. The pen tip stopped just short of the eyeball. Mio didn’t even nod, simply distanced herself from the tutor and repeated the action.

Once the form was correct, the tutor sat down and urged Mio on.

“Next, break my neck.”

Mio nodded, moved behind the tutor, grabbed the top of her head and jaw like a steering wheel, and twisted sharply.

“You still hesitate.”

The tutor, now lying flat with her face horizontal to the ground, grabbed Mio’s wrist and critiqued her. At first, it had been unbearably creepy, but Mio had gotten used to it by now.

She had stopped thinking.

She simply absorbed the techniques taught to her. That was all that mattered.

As long as Mio’s family could be saved.

After spending all day learning assassination techniques, Mio ate dinner alone in the dining hall. A dedicated housekeeper took care of her daily needs, allowing Mio to devote every moment to training as a special operative.

Mechanically, she spooned soup into her stomach while gazing up at the grand chandelier.

Eating alone in the vast dining hall no longer felt lonely.

She was just a bird in a cage. A beloved pet toyed with by Zenon Kavaris, the deputy minister of Urano’s foreign affairs office. As long as she accepted that fate, her siblings wouldn’t have to suffer the same.

Mio lived in Zenon’s private villa. Located in a resort area at the foot of the Petra Mountains that ran through Pleiades, the villa had been Mio’s solitary confinement for nearly a year.

A team of tutors trained Mio relentlessly, turning her into a special operative. At first, she resisted, but eventually, she grew tired of thinking, and now she simply followed instructions—learning to deceive others, gather information, destroy facilities, and assassinate key figures.

If she ever refused, the same line would be delivered without fail.

“If you want your family to suffer, that’s fine by me.”

Those words alone left Mio unable to resist. No matter how repulsive the training, she had no choice but to kill her emotions and accept it.

—I’ve already thrown my own happiness into the trash.

—As long as my brothers and sisters don’t have to go through this, it’s fine…

Telling herself this, she endured the daily training.

After finishing her meal, the housekeepers mechanically cleared away Mio’s dishes. She had never spoken to them. Aside from her education, Mio had no one to talk to—only Zenon, who visited the villa every few months to check on her.

Following dinner was a lesson in wiretapping and reading intercepted letters.

As Mio stood up from her chair, not thinking about anything, the door to the dining hall opened.

“How have you been, Mio?”

A gentle smile, but with a cold glint behind his glasses.

It was Zenon Kavaris, who had visited the villa for the first time in three months.

Mio lowered her left foot and bowed her head in a formal gesture.

“Thanks to you, I am in good health, sir.”

Her voice was devoid of emotion, reciting the words she had been taught by her tutors, without a single thought behind them.

“I keep telling you, there’s no need for such formalities,” Zenon said, shrugging, gesturing toward a chair with his chin. “Sit down. I want to get a good look at your face.”

Mio sat back down in silence.

Zenon placed a finger under her chin and lifted her face, carefully studying her expression.

“You’ve lost your spark. You used to be much more lively.”

“……………………”

“Well, I suppose that’s to be expected with this lifestyle. But your charm lies in that vivaciousness and intelligence of yours. If you lose that, you lose your value. That’s not a good sign.”

“……………………”

“I have some good news for you. Would you like to hear it?”

As he played with a strand of her hair, Zenon whispered softly. Mio didn’t nod.

“I suppose you don’t know how to answer a question that’s not in your textbooks, do you? Such rigid programming… But it’s fine. The efforts of Chrono Magos have paid off. Your second eldest brother managed to defect to Harmonia yesterday. He’ll be coming to Pleiades soon.”

For the first time today, Mio’s face showed a trace of human emotion.

“Yan…?!”

“He was being sheltered by undercover operatives in St Vault, but managed to escape via the Zunjin Dynasty. You’ll see him soon.”

Mio rose slightly from her chair, staring at Zenon in disbelief. She couldn’t hide her joy.

“Thank you… Thank you so much! I never thought I’d see him again…”

The gratitude was genuine. Yan Syira, the second son of the family and a former high-ranking official in the St Vault Empire’s central government, had disappeared after the true identity of Ethan was revealed. But thanks to the help of Chrono Magos, Zenon’s network of influential figures, he had successfully fled the country.

“That makes your sister and two brothers safe. Now, we just need to rescue your parents and your two younger brothers and sister… but that’s proving to be a bit more complicated. However, I’ll continue working on it.”

Mio’s father, Ethan, mother Greta, brothers Dominic and Kazuki, and sister Bonita were still missing, having been detained on the island of Crossnodal. According to Zenon, Chrono Magos was doing everything it could to secure their release, and if the operation succeeded, they would be brought to Pleiades to reunite with Mio.

“Please… I beg you… save my parents and siblings…”

Mio could only cling to Zenon. After all, he had already saved her sister and two brothers, bringing them to safety in Pleiades. Mio understood that she was the lifeline for her family’s survival.

For the sake of her family, she could endure any humiliation.

That was the only reason Mio kept going.

“I will do my best, as long as you continue to do as I say.”

Zenon said this with a smile that appeared friendly but was loaded with malice.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Mio knelt before Zenon.

“…At your will.”

I don’t care what happens to me anymore. As long as Zenon is satisfied and my family is saved, I will remain a lifeless puppet.

Zenon looked down at Mio with satisfaction, then stroked his chin.

“…However, it’s difficult. Your appeal as a woman is undeniable, but right now, you’re more of a beautiful doll. If you had a bit more liveliness, more humanity, you could become an even more captivating operative.”

He gazed at the ceiling in thought, then suddenly smiled as if an idea had come to him.

“…Let’s move, Mio.”

“…?”

“There’s a royal villa deeper in these mountains called the Lamia Palace. A very important person lives there, but they’re suffering from terrible loneliness. Perhaps you could be a comfort to them.”

Mio could only look back at Zenon’s smile with suspicion.

“Your mission is to befriend that person. Simple, right? Much easier than learning assassination or tailing techniques. It’ll be a nice change of pace, for both of you.”

Zenon seemed to have already made the decision. He called for the housekeeper and ordered Mio’s belongings to be packed. Her opinion was irrelevant.

That night.

Just before getting into bed, Mio’s eyes caught a glimpse of her reflection in the window.

At the same moment, a sharp pain pierced through her chest, and the faces of Kiyoaki and her comrades overlapped with her own expression.

She should have forgotten them by now. The bonds she herself had thrown away. But despite thinking how pathetic it was, she couldn’t help but wonder how they were doing now.

She wasn’t seeking forgiveness.

It was undeniable that she and Reiner were the ones who had guided Urano’s air forces to Air Hunt Island.

So, she didn’t want to be forgiven. She wanted them to hate her, despise her, curse her. She was prepared to accept that fate.

—Kiyoaki must have already forgotten about me.

—Illia, Cecil, the captain, Kagura… they must all hate me by now.

—That’s fine. I hope they forget about me, too…

She told herself this, but the tears began to flow on their own.

In her mind, she could still hear that oath.

"Even if we become enemies, we will not hate each other"

"Friendship is eternal."

The naive promise they made, without knowing what the future held.

Now that the cruel reality had come crashing down, she knew that nothing was truly eternal.

How could they not hate her, after she had betrayed her comrades to Urano in exchange for her family’s safety?

Even as she scolded herself for her weakness, the tears wouldn’t stop.

—Idiot. Idiot. Idiot…

Over and over, she cursed herself, eventually averting her gaze from her reflection in the window.

The departure was the next morning.

Dressed and ready, Mio climbed into a carriage drawn by two horses. Zenon saw her off from the entrance.

“I can’t accompany you due to work, but I hope you get along well. I’ll see you again in a few months, and by then, I expect you to have built a good rapport with our friend.”

Zenon waved with an innocent smile, and Mio responded with a polite bow.

“…I will do my best.”

“Good. You’ve been briefed on the person, right? They are crucial to Urano’s future, so make sure not to upset them.”

“…I will do my best.”

Repeating the same reply, the coachman whipped the horses, and Mio left Zenon’s estate.

She felt no regret about moving to a new residence. After all, she was just a puppet now, no longer burdened by human emotions.

As she rode, she replayed the information about her new charge in her mind, as Zenon’s tutor had explained to her earlier. Her only goal was to ingratiate herself with them, as that was the only way to please Zenon and secure her family’s safety.

The road began to climb steeply, twisting through unpaved switchbacks. For a royal villa, it was in a rather remote location. Along the way, they passed a large checkpoint, where a dozen heavily armed guards kept a close watch on the desolate road.

The soldiers’ armour seemed unusual. They didn’t look like Urano soldiers. Perhaps they were personal guards assigned to the important figure Mio was being sent to serve.

As the carriage passed under the thick canopy of trees, a massive gate loomed ahead. It was more like a fortress than a villa. The coachman presented identification and travel permits to the guards, who scrutinized Mio’s profile through the carriage window before opening the gate.

The estate was vast, with sentry towers equipped with gun turrets scattered throughout the grounds. The mansion itself had an old-fashioned colonnade, and a tall round tower stood behind the main building.

—It feels like a prison.

That was Mio’s first impression as she was escorted inside.

A tall, armed guard greeted her. He had sharp, melancholic eyes and slightly long Gray hair. Even Mio, who usually didn’t care about others’ appearances, felt her heart skip a beat at his strikingly beautiful features.

After introducing herself as the new attendant sent by Zenon to take care of the important figure, the guard, who had an androgynous face, turned his back to her without a nod and walked deeper into the entrance hall.

When Mio hesitated, he turned back with an irritated look and barked at her.

“What are you doing? Follow me.”

He seemed quite arrogant. Feeling slightly annoyed, Mio silently followed him.

There were few people in the large mansion, and the furnishings were covered in dust. It seemed like an unusually barren place for someone important to live, reinforcing the impression of a prison.

The guard began to climb a spiral staircase. It was long, and no matter how far they ascended, the top didn’t seem to come into view. It must have been the tall tower she had seen from the garden. Was this where the person she was to serve lived?

—Like a prisoner.

That thought crossed her mind as they reached the top of the stairs, where the guard stopped in front of a door. He seemed about to knock, but then reconsidered and looked down at Mio with a stern expression.

“I don’t care what your mission is here, but remember this. If you do anything suspicious, I will personally throw you out.”

It seemed he was the knight in charge of protecting the important figure.

Without much interest, Mio responded curtly.

“As you wish.”

The knight gave her a puzzled look before finally knocking on the door.

“I’ve brought the new attendant.”

A thin, girlish voice answered from inside.

“Please come in.”

The knight gestured with his chin for Mio to enter.

“Go in. And I’m warning you again—don’t do anything foolish.”

Without replying, Mio opened the door and stepped inside.

The top room of the round tower was sparse, with only the bare minimum of furnishings. A few history books, encyclopedias, and maps of the world compiled by Urano filled the bookshelf. A statue of Saint Aldista stood atop the shelf, hands clasped together, gazing into the void.

A narrow skylight in the dome-shaped ceiling let in a sliver of sunlight, which fell in a white shaft, like an inverted funnel, upon the girl sitting in the chair.

—She looks like a doll.

That was Mio’s first impression.

Kneeling, she introduced herself.

“My name is Mio Syira. I will be taking care of you from today. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Mio raised her head and met the eyes of the princess seated in the velvet-covered chair.

At that moment, a painful pang struck Mio’s chest.

—She looks like me.

For some inexplicable reason, that thought crossed her mind.

“Thank you for your service.”

In a refined, small voice, the princess responded.

Her black hair was neatly cut at her shoulders. She wore a plain white blouse and a navy skirt, with a simple pendant at her chest. When Mio had been briefed by her tutors, she had expected a more regal, grandiose figure, but in person, the princess appeared modest, clean, and graceful.

—She seems kind…

Once again, Mio’s gaze was drawn to the white light surrounding the princess.

She seemed as fragile as a sculpture of ice, as if she might melt into a puddle in the sunlight. The concentrated sadness emanating from her pressed down on Mio’s chest.

Could this pure, untainted girl really have once led a nation to ruin and annihilated Urano’s fleet at the Holy Spring?

—The saviour foretold in the ancient myths.

A figure who Urano had awaited for over two thousand years. And yet, all that reflected in her grape-coloured eyes was sorrow.

—The heir to Urano.

According to prophecy, this girl would one day become the king of Urano and unite the world, bringing eternal peace to the heavens and the earth.

—The girl who calls the wind.

I wonder… can we become friends?

—Nina Viento.

END Volume 4

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