Horizon:Volume 10A Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Parallel Intersectors

I can’t do more than I can imagine

But more than I can imagine can happen

Point Allocation (Why me…)

●

Mogami Yoshiaki considered what to do now.

It was night in her headquarters of Ushuu.

She was on the Yamagata Castle’s bridge, watching the moons sink into the western sky.

…So Nobunaga’s gone to the moon.

What is this, the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter? she thought, taking a drink of the sake prepared for her on the tatami mats.

Ahead of her, she could see the excavated landport used as the Yamagata Castle’s port, the mountain path leading down from there, some glimpses of the valley beyond, and the lights shining there.

Ushuu’s multilevel production sector had its lights on maximum in preparation for the harvest.

“We should have a good crop this year. The festivities during autumn are going to be something else.”

The effect of the harmonic territories was already pretty strong by this time, so they were preparing for snow.

Management of the multilevel underground city required a great many things: allotting storage space, planning the different waves of the harvest schedule, holding festivals, collecting taxes, etc. This was also a tough time for Yoshiaki because she could more directly sense the liveliness and gratitude of the people she led.

But Musashi was in trouble.

The completion of the Honnouji Incident, the truth of the Genesis Project, the trip to the moon, and other information had reached her through the M.H.R.R. Protestants and Sviet Rus.

“We can’t let them get away with this, mon!” was Shakenobe’s reaction to it all.

Yoshiaki agreed with him.

…A loss of all our relationships?

She knew all too well what that meant. Her divine weapon Onikiri used people’s relationships to attack.

She had known Musashi would do the right thing and had been willing to wait for them to act.

But she had learned how precarious the situation was thanks to a report from Satomi Vice President Masaki Tokishige.

“So the Musashi has engaged the Azuchi in battle.”

“Yoshiaki-sama! Are you going to go help them, mon!?”

“I couldn’t make it in time.”

As punishment for making her say that, she grabbed Shakenobe and stretched him about 50 centimeters while thinking.

…How is this going to turn out?

●

Yoshiaki wondered if she should visit the Musashi to celebrate if they won this. The first harvest had already begun for some cultivars of rice, so she could bring some of that along as a gift.

But what if they lost? If they did and Hashiba still had some power left, it would certainly bother her after the entire Komahime affair. If they first took Komahime and then Musashi too…

“Yoshiaki-sama, don’t think so much. It will only age you faster, mon!”

“You really know how to say just the right thing and just the wrong thing at the same time.”

She stretched him around 70 centimeters.

…Well, it should work out.

He was right that worrying over future uncertainties was a waste of time. If she had found someone she could trust in, then she just had to trust in them.

But she was curious about one thing.

Nine Tail Girl: “Reine des Garous, are you up? What do you think?”

●

Still Got It: “Oh? About what, Mogami Chancellor? I am up, but I am busy.”

Nine Tail Girl: “Busy with your husband?”

Still Got It: “No, I am not. …We’re taking a break and I can’t seem to find the next costume I want him to wear.”

Nine Tail Girl: “And your husband?”

Still Got It: “Fixing a delicious late-night snack while unaware he will soon be wearing this bunny costume I’m holding right now. Hee hee. Skinning a hare and leaving it like that for fun is such a delightfully sinful idea. Score one for Shinto.”

Nine Tail Girl: “Shinto, hm? And since that story is from the Inaba province, I suppose it does come from Hexagone Française. Let’s hope your husband is fixing some kind of rabbit. …Anyway, can I get down to business?”

Still Got It: “You mean that the Musashi and Azuchi are fighting? Yes, I can hear it from here, so I’m just so worried. In the first half, my kids did such a great job at Honnouji. In a kinky way. So I’m worried about their fighting in the second half. Also in a kinky way.”

Nine Tail Girl: ‘Your kids?”

Still Got It: “My suspicions from the Kantou Liberation have been confirmed. …When did you figure it out?”

Nine Tail Girl: “Also during the Kantou Liberation. …The details will probably have to wait until they reveal it. Hopefully when we meet again, we can either trade complaints or brag to each other.”

Still Got It: “Testament. Until later then. …My husband is calling.”

●

Yoshiaki sighed and adjusted her position on the tatami mats.

“So it’s certain then.”

“What is, mon?”

“Testament. I view relationships as irreplaceable, but there are some who believe they must be severed.”

Honestly, she thought with a sigh. But knowing those kids…

“Their reaction is going to be interesting. That much is certain.”

●

The fighting had begun at close range.

The Azuchi’s first action while cautious of the Musashi’s Kanesada main cannon was to take an advantageous position.

Firing Kanesada required a fair amount of power, but it first required some attitude control by the Musashi.

The previous blasts had been directed straight out ahead of the Musashi, but…

“I have determined the Musashi would have a hard time firing to the side due to issues with balance and aim! Shaja!”

That meant a position alongside the Musashi was best. If the Musashi did aim at them while they flew parallel to each other, the Azuchi only had to drop its speed to avoid it. And if the Musashi had to reduce its power to prepare to fire, the Azuchi could also move out ahead.

With aerial ships, being on the enemy’s tail wasn’t necessarily the best position.

Since the stern tended to be sturdy, it was hard to get in an effective hit, which could allow the enemy to escape. And the enemy could dictate the speed and direction to avoid being rammed from behind. The latter also gave them control over the targeting and power usage, which could be quite effective.

Large ships had methods of attacking and defending to the rear, so being in front actually provided an advantage.

And that was especially true when…

“Fighting on the ships!”

That was where the warriors came in. As the Azuchi flew on its side, its “top”, which was actually its port side, jutted up high, so several figures leaped toward the Musashi from there.

Their altitude was even higher than the Musashino bridge. The Hashiba warriors leapt out, expecting to be caught in the air current.

Those from M.H.R.R. let the weight and thrusters of their mobile shells handle it.

Those from P.A. Oda actually let the wind catch them before they activated wind spells.

In response, the Musashi worked to pull away from the Azuchi and continued to deflect the warriors with defense barriers. Furthermore, they moved out ahead of the Azuchi, which had lessened its acceleration to focus on stability, and…

“Master Tenzou!”

Ex. Collbrande’s shining attack shot diagonally out from Okutama’s stern.

It was on a collision course with the bridge of the Azuchi’s first central ship.

●

Gold Mar: “Ma-yan doesn’t mess around!”

Art-Ga: “Do we even need a main cannon?”

Musashi: “To be honest, our main cannon was created as a request from Masazumi-sama and others. I never really felt the need for one. Over.”

Vice President: “Hey! Stop that! What if ‘Musashi’ gets sulky and creates stricter conditions for firing Kanesada!?”

Silver Wolf: “Masazumi? If anything convinces her to do that, it will be your post.”

●

Kiyomasa didn’t move.

She was on her way from the first central ship’s bridge. She had been summoned for the Musashi landing party.

She no longer had a defense role. So even with an incoming Excalibur attack…

…Someone else can handle it!

She called that person’s name.

“Mitsunari-sama!”

●

Tenzou saw white lights collide in midair.

…Huh?

One was Mary’s Ex. Collbrande. But if he had to identify the other…

“Lype Katathlipse!?”

But the color was wrong. A mostly white gunsword had been fired from atop the Azuchi’s bridge.

●

The light collided and scattered from the impact point.

The sword-shaped blast collapsed and the torrential clawing white light also came apart and vanished.

All that remained was a massive amount of ether light blowing in the wind and…

“Not yet!”

Mitsunari’s voice rang out from atop the Azuchi’s bridge.

Half supported by Hirano and “Azuchi” who stood on either side of her, she readied a weapon. She returned the white Lype Katathlipse to the nonuple stocker on her back and pulled out…

“A bow!”

The Logismoi Oplo bow was Maska Orge.

The people on Oume’s stern cried out in alarm.

“That’s a fake Muneshige Bow! Maybe it won’t hit!”

“No, if it’s fake, maybe it actually will hit!”

“Wait, will it hit or not!?”

In lieu of answering, Mitsunari fired the Logismoi Oplo.

●

The power scattered across Oume’s port stern.

Maska Orge would pierce the weakness in the hearts of any who felt pangs of conscience.

The people on the hit part of the Musashi began rolling on the deck.

“Ahhhhhhh! All those divine figurines I bought and then never opened!”

“I kept telling myself I would watch that video but I never did and ended up overwriting it with something else!”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I wasn’t viewing her in a wholesome way and I even bought some of those doujinshis!”

After the boys and girls were blown away just the same, the Hashiba warriors who had slipped past the defense barriers made their landing. They used binding spells to restrain the people rolling and writhing on the deck.

“Kh. If we weren’t enemies, I would commiserate with you in your pain!”

“I know what you mean! Anything is allowed as long as you keep it to your imagination, right!?”

With comments to that effect, they cleared the way to give space for those landing after them.

They had only secured the surface since defense barriers were embedded in the floor, but this did give them a bridgehead.

●

…Does this mean Hashiba herself had her own Logismoi Oplo!?

Narumi mentally frowned while defending Takao’s stern in Unturning Centipede.

She was familiar with Maska Orge. It had been given to Sviet Rus, but it had been carried by Marfa, an enemy of their Chancellor Kagekatsu.

Narumi had never fought against it due to the geographical separation, but Sviet Rus had still been their neighbor. They had occasionally received intelligence on its usage and she had been familiar with Marfa herself. She had also seen Musashi’s Vicereine and Princess impulsively fire it a few times.

But now Hashiba’s Ishida Mitsunari had used it.

“Probably spares or prototypes,” quietly said Urquiaga. “It isn’t showing any of the transformation through joint processing seen at Honnouji, so those Logismoi Oplo are likely no more than simple weapons. But…”

“This only adds to the threat posed by the enemy, right?”

She asked what they were going to do about it. She and Urquiaga were on Takao’s stern, but they could fly. Since the Azuchi was on the port side, they could head out to strike back in a hit-and-run attack. But…

Uqui: “Naito, Naruze, how are things with you?”

Gold Mar: “Ahh! We’re up on the bridge tower trying to stop the enemy from landing!”

Art-Ga: “There are so many that none of our shots can miss. It’s incredible! But can we let Oume’s defense system handle the ones who have managed to land!?”

“Defense system?”

Narumi frowned and a sign frame appeared by her face in the control space within Unturning Centipede.

It displayed illustrations of a group of cartoon-style warriors to show what would happen. After watching through to the fourth step, she understood.

“Judge. At the very least, that should eliminate anyone who isn’t officer class.”

●

The landing zone build by the Hashiba warriors was a 30m square on the outer edge of Oume’s stern.

That had originally been a residential area, but with the base hulls removed, only the very edge was usable.

It was a flat, straight, and open 30m-wide corridor. To the left was the sky and to the right was a drop of about 15 meters to a hole sealed off by a defense barrier where a base hull had been.

The landed Hashiba warriors took a look around below the artillery fire.

“Would this area normally act as a RORO point for light transport ships docked off the edge? The Musashi really is the same model as the Azuchi.”

But the corridor was sealed and blocked by armored walls at several points.

At 30m intervals. Oume’s bridge was at the stern, but the path leading to it was blocked by an armor panel and defense barriers had opened upon their arrival.

“We’ve landed, but there’s a wall like a bookend cutting us off.”

“And with us here, the Azuchi can’t attack here, which only hurts our side.”

The team attempting to blow through the floor with explosive spells had everyone move away from the blast point. After the tremor of the blast, they tilted their heads.

“It’s no use! Is there a defense barrier in the floor? It must be some kind of divine protection!”

“What, do they have that applied to the entire ship? How rich are they?”

“If they’re only applying it where we’ve landed, it wouldn’t cost that much, would it?”

Meanwhile, some light arrived.

“Huh?”

They turned around to see a defense barrier launched from the wall fore of them. It was large enough to fill the corridor and…

“It’s coming this way!”

A few warriors in mobile shells faced the barrier as it approached to sweep them away. They each took fighting stances with their assault spears fixed to their side hard points and light in their thrusters.

They instantly reached high speed and, starting with the one in the lead…

“Heh! I performed countless charges to break down Magdeburg’s wall, so- gwahhhhhhh!”

“Are you stupid!? We developed this improved version after things went so badly at Magde- gwahhhh!”

“C’mon, you two! Oh, well! I can just attack the weak points their damage made in the- gwahhhhhhhhh!”

As the first three were thrown off the stern of the ship, the remaining warriors gulped.

The captain clenched his fist and stared at the approaching barrier.

“Damn, how dare you make all my people’s efforts completely worthless!?”

“Captain! There has to be a better way of putting that!”

Meanwhile, the barrier was closing in. There wasn’t even time to prepare a defense.

“Ahhhhhhhh!”

Just as several people screamed as one, the light scattered.

The explosion of shattering light was filled with sounds of destruction. And a voice.

“Are you alright!?”

Then they all saw a familiar figure standing below the ether light of the shattered defense barrier. It was…

“Kasuya Takenori of the Ten Spears!”

●

“Testament,” she confirmed. Her attack had been well timed. Being mechanically launched here made it easy to get her breathing and steps timed right. And…

“The nonhuman unit is here too!”

“The defense barriers took issue with around five of us on the way here, but we made it!”

Kousaka, Inada, and around a dozen other command level warriors landed silently behind Kasuya. However, they were not armed with rifles.

“These are M.H.R.R.’s famous mining war hammers!”

M.H.R.R.’s skill at metalwork was supported by their mining industry. Ordinary tools were not enough to mine Orei Metallo, so they would use ether boosting or excavation tools made with Orei Metallo itself. But…

“We will dig our way forward! The nonhuman unit will break through all of their barriers!”

Because…

“At the stern, the enemy can fight back from their bridge and rear deck! We need to advance to their side port which acts as a central wing! That way their own defense barriers will get in their way!”

The next barrier came while Kasuya spoke. Kousaka and Inada readied their war hammers and ran forward.

“We can smash through the armored walls too, right!?”

“The enemy will rush us if you break three of them, so only break two!”

“Testament!” said the rest of the nonhuman unit as they charged forward with their war hammers or other types of hammer.

…They have an awful lot of anti-barrier gear.

Kasuya had been curious about that and asked before they left and Inada had answered with a completely serious look.

“You know the wagons that come to the front of the academy late at night? When we’re short on money, we’ll board those and-”

Kasuya shut that conversation down there.

Her Argent Clou could do the same thing, but she knew she should leave this to them. She instead turned to the warriors who had secured a position here.

“Now, let’s go further forward! I’m counting on your anti-air defense and detection to tell me if the enemy aerial team is approaching!”

At the same time, light shattered up ahead. Kousaka and the others had slammed their hammers against a launched defense barrier.

“Unpaid laborrrrrr!!”

Could you maybe find something else to shout?

●

“Oume” had a thought while pursuing her rapidly multiplying tasks.

…This must be the unluckiest day in my automaton life.

First Kani’s transport ship and now the enemy’s landing. What was so bad about Hashiba being here? The difficulty of making constant reports to the other ships regarding them.

All the others only had to communicate with her, but she had communicate with all seven other ships.

“Wait! Wait! I have to focus on things here, so I will be slow to respond! Okay!?”

When she sent that message via their shared memory space, “Shinagawa” and “Murayama” told her to just keep sending the reports and withdrew. As a fellow third ship, “Takao” was running simulations based on the current circumstances, which “Oume” greatly appreciated.

…But what about “Okutama” and such? Do they even need to hear what I have to say?

Thinking would send her into an automaton-style infinite loop of thought, but asking them would only give her their opinion. Since she wouldn’t gain anything from it, asking would only give her more work.

So when she went ahead and asked for any updates, “Hamura” raised her hand.

“The enemy unit has stopped in front of the port wing. They are using the armor wall as a shield to hold a sporadic firefight with the warriors atop the wing. Over.”

“Oume” checked the positions of the aft warriors and the amidships ones.

That told her something.

“The enemy warriors are keeping an equal distance from each of our warrior groups as they use what influence they have to keep us from crushing them all at once. Over.”

This was trouble. With both sides equally distant and with the same level of influence, neither could do much of anything. But if “Oume” sent a unit or other fighting force in to assist, that would leave a hole in their defenses somewhere else.

These were not powerful enemies, but they were troublesome.

However, something else caught her attention even more. The enemy was hiding behind one of the armor walls used to produce defense barriers, but…

…The wall is continuing to produce the barriers!?

It was functioning. When it was sent power, it would launch a barrier. So why couldn’t it eliminate the enemy?

“They have destroyed the launching surface, haven’t they!?”

●

Kasuya and the others had used a simple method to prevent the defense barriers from being launched.

… We only had to use a spell field to seal the launching surface.

The barrier was produced within the armor wall. There had to be an ether conduit running through the wall which was used to activate a spell that launched the barrier.

They could have destroyed it, but that would have brought them closer to the enemy. Their goal here was to use the wall as a shield and stall the enemy while the rest of their people made a landing.

So they only had to mess with the wall to interfere with the barrier launching process.

That meant a charm.

But they couldn’t attach just any charm.

They had used a groundbreaking ceremony field spell that was meant to purify a land and establish its bounds. By purifying the space in front of the wall, it created a spell field that turned the wall into an interior wall rather than an exterior one.

The spell defense barriers were set for outdoor use so they wouldn’t affect anything within the ship. That prevented them from passing through the spell field which counted as “inside” and they ended up being launched onto the wall that acted as a borderline with the “outside”.

But this was easier said than done.

The spell field had to be established quick and with a fair amount of power and precision. Furthermore…

…We need an understanding of their main shrine that acts as a foundation for their spell.

Hirano had handled that part and she had done a good job.

They were now free to act within the 20m square spell field.

This was a testament to Hirano’s skill. As the Ten Spears’ shrine maiden, she was adept at all things ether related, but also…

“She’s very familiar with the Asama Shrine.”

She had to be watching them from the Azuchi Castle while monitoring the ether activity across the Musashi and doing her work in her own way.

Just as one of the giant defense barriers was launched with irregular timing, Kasuya raised her voice.

Black Wolf: “Okay! The rest of you are free to land!”

●

Fukushima took a deep breath.

She was on the port deck of the Azuchi’s first port ship.

That should have been the ship’s side, but now it acted as a diving board to reach the Musashi. And the catapult that usually launched transport ships had its launching spell reworked and separated out to create launching systems for individual people.

Looking up, Fukushima saw her team of around two hundred. They had all fought under her command during the Siege of Bitchu Takamatsu Castle and split off into other teams during the Battle of Shizugatake before returning to her here.

The wind blew in on her right side while she stood with her back to the Musashi as it fired artillery and scattered defense barrier fragments.

“I am glad we could all fight together again today. We have not been together since Bitchu Takamatsu Castle, but while we were fighting for our lives before, here we will be fighting for our true mission.”

Meaning…

“If we fail our mission here, even our deaths will be meaningless. Please keep that in mind.”

The group listening to her words – mostly M.H.R.R. students – answered with a deep nod.

“Testament.”

Testament, testament, testament. Hearing their quiet words of understanding with no excess chatter, Fukushima also nodded.

“I am in thy debt.”

After a moment’s hesitation, she looked right to the western sky.

The moons were not out. And Kiyomasa’s team had arrived alongside hers. There was more laughter in that team, which seemed fitting for a team led by Kiyomasa. But at the same time…

“Thou will likely end up fighting on thy own on once thou arrive, but I know that thou can achieve thy mission. And…”

She bowed her head.

“I thank thee for sticking with me this far.”

●

“Think nothing of it, captain.”

Kiyomasa heard one of the warriors speak.

…Oh?

That was from Fukushima’s team. The warriors had been split into a few different teams this time, but Fukushima’s team was hurriedly calling out to a bowing Fukushima.

“It’s true we had some doubts about our new captains when you showed up out of nowhere like that.”

Yes, thought Kiyomasa.

There had originally been different candidates for the Ten Spears. But Kiyomasa’s group had taken those positions and the original candidates had moved to Sanada.

During summer break, Kiyomasa had spoken quite a bit with one of them: Unno. She wasn’t sure if she could call them good friends, but she wanted to think she could. But even if she was only imagining it, the fun she had in Sanada over summer break had left her feeling like she couldn’t really blame Unno for any ill will given what her group had done to that group in the past.

The people who had adored that group were now following her group.

“But, captain, you’re always working so hard while also making sure we can do our jobs.”

“We keep finding you fighting some wild battles on your own, but that gives us a chance to do our jobs, so it’s lucky for us really.”

“It’s give and take. Or all’s well that ends well.”

“Hah,” laughed a young warrior. “To be honest, I didn’t trust you until Bitchu Takamatsu Castle.”

But…

“Without you there, we would’ve been overrun by that Katou Danzou. And yet…”

“Captain, I finally gave in after Katou Danzou acknowledged your strength,” said a female warrior, pointing at the blue feather on Fukushima’s head armor.

“That’s right,” said another. “I’m a fan of Kiyomasa-senpai, so I only accepted you – a little grudgingly – after the orchestra race on the Azuchi!”

…Ah, ahhh?

Was it Kiyomasa’s turn to blush now? But the others all began to explain when it was for them and it spread to the other teams as well.

The unit leaders, who she always left in charge, looked to the Fukushima team and…

“Captain.”

“Yes?”

“We all care about you team captains more than we did Nobunaga-sama.”

“So,” they continued. “We will willingly go with you.”

“Also,” said one of the unit leaders in Fukushima’s team, turning this way. “Our class understands you better now that we’ve heard about the Genesis Project. We know why you wouldn’t tell us anything, why you treasured your superiors so much, and why you always worked to help us and protect us.”

“Even if you never put it to words, it was all there in your actions.”

“Trust and trustworthiness are words of course, but really they’re actions,” he said to bowing Fukushima. “So, captain, everything you’ve done was for tonight, wasn’t it? Then raise your head. You expressed yourself through your actions instead of your words, so now you need to raise your head.”

A breath.

“Tell us everything we’ve done was right through the action of raising your head.”

She must have taken those words as permission.

Fukushima raised her head.

She faced forward and smiled. She simply changed her expression instead of responding with words. Then she nodded again and spoke.

“Our goal is the destruction of each Musashi ship’s bridge. The particular method doesn’t matter. If anything gets in thy way, then each unit or their representative is to eliminate it. So…”

So…

“It all comes down to how much thou can accomplish here. Beyond that, if thou run across anything thou cannot handle, thou can leave it to us or to the Azuchi.”

●

Fukushima saw and heard a few lighthearted cheers from out ahead.

They finally exchanged glances.

“She makes it sound like we’re the stars here.”

“I never thought of myself as a side character in the first place.”

“Yeah, you’re always the lead and the play always has a bad ending!”

As they traded comments like that, they brought their heels together and formed up properly. The front unit leader breathed in and…

“Testament! We understand our mission! We will all do our very best in the name of the Testament!”

“Testament. That could not be more true.”

With that, Fukushima turned around.

And she faced the white and black ship visible past the artillery fire and breaking defense barriers.

“If the Testament is a representation of destiny, then all is as the Testament wills it. Testament.”

●

Suzu kept calm as she piloted the Musashi.

The problem was her lack of anti-ship combat experience. The automata were the same, so despite their vast knowledge, the lack of experience made it difficult for them to make the best choices.

“I am sorry, Suzu-sama. The Musashi’s only combat experience involving an exchange of close-range artillery fire is the Armada Battle and the Battle of Mikatagahara, which do not provide much to go on. Over.”

“Y-yes…um, that’s…right.”

But by speaking with each other and analyzing the Azuchi’s movements, something like a strategy came into view.

There was one thing they had to most watch out for.

“With them to our side…moving too far away laterally would be dangerous?”

It was possible the Azuchi was leading them to think this, but it was probably true.

Most of the Azuchi’s guns could not aim straight up at 90 degrees and the catapults used to launch transport ships were on the sides. It was obvious the Azuchi would use those things if the Musashi moved too far away.

But just like the Musashi, the Azuchi was a long ship. The guns that couldn’t aim straight up could fire at different angles and with homing and guided secondary cannons, there was still some artillery fire.

The same applied to the Musashi, so while they couldn’t supply a decisive blow, they had been forced to adopt a tactic of keeping the same distance and relative position.

Suzu did appreciate the defense interception system that used Branch and Leaf Connection. They knew the close-range artillery would be dangerous if it got too close, so with their port side staring down the Azuchi, the center axis had been shifted starboard. The starboard ships’ automata took over the processing for what this didn’t cover.

They had taken a few hits, but nothing serious. The firing range of the enemy guns had been extracted and combined to calculate out the safe zones.

But another factor was changing all that.

…Their landing team!

The Azuchi had likely determined their own safe zone based on the movement of the Musashi’s guns. The defense barriers and warriors were working to stop the enemy landing team, but there were a few “great powers” among them.

The defense barriers kept breaking and so some had arrived aboard the Musashi.

…Is that…?

Suzu recognized who was leading the second enemy group as they boarded the previously untouched center of the ship.

“The Hashiba Ten Spears…are here!”

●

The first to react to the arrival of the enemy’s main force was Toori on Okutama’s bow deck.

“My king?”

He held Mitotsudaira’s head and body from behind and sniffed her. After that made her blush, stiffen, and stop moving, he called out to Horizon, Kimi, and Asama.

“C’mon over and get some of this battle protection wafting off of Nate.”

“Oh, is it like the incense they have at the Buddhist temple, Toori-sama?”

They all approached and tried to wrap themselves in her wolfish aura. But Mitotsudaira herself…

“I am not powerful enough to give off a divine protection like that.”

“You do for us, Nate.”

His smiling comment briefly silenced the silver wolf. And after a moment…

“I am off…to protect you, my king.”

“If it comes to it, we’ll go hide in the Main Blue- wait, no, it’s gone! Well, wherever we run off to, just track down our scents.”

“Understood.” The wolf smiled bitterly. A moment later, Toori held his thumb to his lips and then brought the thumb to the knight’s lips.

“It’s this scent, okay?”

“…That has some of mine mixed in from earlier.”

“But you will find me, won’t you?”

“I am your first knight, my king.”

With a casual wave goodbye, the silver wolf dashed away.

Only the wind remained as the wolf vanished from the deck.

“Damn, she’s fast!”

She was on the hunt.

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