Toaru Hikuushi e no Seiyaku:Part9

Part 5 (Part 9 of Volume 1)

"We need to hurry with our departure. I've noticed smoke signals rising from various parts of the island. It's a sign of danger," Balthazar reported decisively.

"We're pulling out. Get the Eriadore airborne immediately. No dawdling—if we stay on this island any longer, we'll be roasted alive."

The seven crew members worked together to drag the Eriadore, which had run aground on the beach, back into the shallow water.

Reiner and Kiyoaki carried the heavy radio equipment onboard. Cecil verified the codebook and radio frequencies, while Mio and Reiner charted tonight’s planned course on the navigation maps. Illia took her place in the co-pilot's seat, conducting checks on the controls and instruments, and Kagura started the engine, ensuring there were no irregular sounds like grinding or knocking.

As Kiyoaki finished setting up the radio detector and was checking its operation, Mio approached from behind.

"That was rough, huh?" Her tone was cold. "Yeah. It was really dangerous. If Kagura hadn’t heard the gunfire, it could’ve been much worse."

"What were you doing with Illia?" Her voice grew even colder. "Nothing. I went to find her, but she was attacked by locals. I tried to help, but I couldn’t bring myself to shoot anyone. Kagura saved us. That’s all."

"Hmph."

Mio’s response was curt, and Kiyoaki could feel the thick tension behind him. He turned around.

Since they'd known each other for a long time, Kiyoaki could tell just by looking—Mio was furious.

"Are you mad about something? I don’t get it. We made it back safely, can’t you at least be happy about that?"

"...I don’t care. Idiot. Perv. Freak."

She stuck out her tongue and quickly stormed off to the forward gun turret. "Wait, Mio..." Kiyoaki called after her, but she didn’t turn around.

"Having a lover's quarrel?" Reiner teased again. Ignoring him, Kiyoaki sat in the pilot's seat. Illia sat quietly beside him.

Everything felt awkward and tense.

As he checked the instruments, Kiyoaki stole a glance at Illia out of the corner of his eye. Her shirt's buttons had been torn off, leaving her chest slightly exposed.

The memory of what he’d seen at the river last night flashed behind his eyelids.

The two peaks, normally hidden under the tightly wrapped cloth, now standing proud beneath her uniform.

──Ugh.

He barely managed to suppress a groan. " " There seemed to be an unspoken tension coming from Illia as well. He thought it would be better to say something, anything, to break the awkward silence. He forced himself to speak in a calm tone.

"I-I'll take the helm. You handle the throttle, Illia." "...Ah, alright. I’ll take care of the throttle." "O-Okay. Thank you."

Both of their faces turned bright red as they exchanged awkward, mechanical greetings. At that moment, Cecil and Balthazar entered the cockpit.

"Get us moving. The locals are gathering," Balthazar ordered.

Kiyoaki quickly started the engine. Thanks to the repairs, the takeoff went smoothly. Through the windshield, he saw a group of 30 to 40 locals gathered near the plains and hills, holding primitive weapons like farm tools and clubs. Even from a distance, their hostile intent was clear.

"We're leaving."

The Eriadore glided across the water, exiting the inlet. The narrow gap between the cliffs on either side framed the sky, which was already beginning to darken.

Kiyoaki maneuvered the airship out of the inlet with the foot pedals.

Unfortunately, the sea was calm. It would have been easier to take off if there had been wind, but they had no time to be picky.

"Illia, full throttle." "Roger." Illia pushed the four throttle levers hanging from the ceiling forward. The

engine’s RPMs surged, and the propellers roared, enveloping the airship in their power as the Eriadore gained momentum.

Kiyoaki quickly moved the control stick up and down. With no wind, he had to sway the airship to improve lift-off.

"Takeoff."

In a flash, they reached the speed needed for takeoff, and the Eriadore lifted into the sky.

The white-capped waves that had rushed past them receded into the distance far below. The tilted rays of sunlight poured through the cockpit’s glass ceiling. The beloved aircraft soared higher and higher into the sky, unaffected by the damage it had sustained. At an altitude of 2,500 meters, they leveled out into horizontal flight.

The time was now 5:15 PM. Balthazar announced the situation.

"We're taking off three hours ahead of schedule. We'll pass through the sea region where the enemy surveillance grids of Odessa Airfield and Sierra Greed Airfield overlap. All hands, take battle positions. Don't forget, we're already in a war zone. Keep a strict watch, and report anything unusual immediately."

The original plan had been to take off at 8:30 PM under the cover of darkness, cross the enemy surveillance zone, and land in front of Chandler Fortress at dawn. However, thanks to the locals, they had taken off early and would now have to fly in daylight for nearly two more hours. As long as the sun was up, they would be easily spotted by enemy planes, making it a dangerous flight for the slow-moving airship.

Balthazar leaned over to check Kiyoaki’s instrument panel.

"We have plenty of fuel. If all goes well, we should reach the coast near Chandler Fortress around 3:30 AM. We'll circle in the air until we have visibility, and as soon as we can make out the horizon, we’ll land. Can you do it?"

"Yes, sir."

"Cecil, man the right gun turret. Only receive radio signals, don’t send anything down. If we transmit, they'll detect us immediately. Absolutely no radio emissions."

"Y-Yes, sir!"

"Kiyoaki, Illia, I’m leaving the piloting entirely to you. Kagura and I will take up positions at the gun turrets. If anything happens, call us through the voice pipe."

"Yes, sir!"

Balthazar took his position at the tail gun, Kagura manned the left-side gun turret, and Cecil took the right-side turret with the radio. Reiner was stationed at the upper turret, while Mio sat in the nose turret, with all seven crew members watching their respective directions.

And once again, Kiyoaki and Illia were left alone in the cockpit. " " " "

They were currently flying through dangerous airspace. They had to forget the

trivial matters on the ground and focus only on reaching their destination.

Kiyoaki scanned the airspace ahead and above, occasionally tilting the airship to allow the side gunners to monitor the area directly below the ship. They were now deep in Urano airspace, and an enemy fighter could appear at any moment.

Behind them, the sun was gradually sinking toward the horizon.

He prayed for it to disappear faster. All he wanted right now was the cover of nightfall.

The minutes dragged by. The current time was 6:50 PM. Sunset would be around 7:10 PM, and even after the sun set, the twilight would last about 15 more minutes. They still had to endure 40 more minutes of daylight.

And then—

"One large bomber at two o’clock, flying the same course," Mio’s voice came through the voice pipe from the nose turret.

Kiyoaki looked in the direction she indicated. Sure enough, a large glint of light was moving in the same direction as the Eriadore.

"That’s... not friendly, right?"

Cecil, who was monitoring enemy radio signals, called out through the voice pipe.

"The Urano radio chatter is picking up. I think they’ve spotted us too." Illia quietly observed the distant aircraft. "...It’s a Gorgona."

She muttered the name of Urano’s latest heavy bomber.

It was 20 meters long with a wingspan of 30 meters. Slightly smaller than the Eriadore, but its flammable piping system was covered in rubber insulation, giving it excellent fire resistance and durability. Equipped with 15 15mm machine guns, it was like a flying fortress, capable of holding its own even against fighter formations.

Mio reported again through the voice pipe.

"No accompanying escort fighters. It's just the Gorgona. It’s probably on its way back from a reconnaissance mission to Tsurugi Island."

If there were fighter escorts, they would be in serious trouble, but it seemed they didn’t have to worry about that for now. The Gorgona had likely reported their presence to the Odessa base, but there wouldn’t be a dogfight. Bombers and airships weren’t designed for aerial combat.

"It’s flying the same route. I hate to say it, but... this feels gross."

Because the route from Cameron Island to Chandler Fortress passed right by the Odessa Fortress on Messus Island, it felt like they were flying in formation with the enemy Gorgona, heading back to base together.

Balthazar’s voice came through the voice pipe.

"Alter course and put some distance between us. There’s no need to expose ourselves. Mio, any issues?"

"The wind speed and direction are stable, no problems. Adjust course 20 degrees

to the left."

"Roger. Turning 20 degrees left."

Kiyoaki steered the ship to the left as directed. It slightly deviated from their planned route, but there was no helping it. They weren’t foolish enough to accompany the enemy bomber back to their fortress.

As they altered course, the Gorgona’s silhouette should have gradually shrunk into the distance—but it wasn’t.

"...Huh?"

It wasn’t shrinking. In fact, it was getting bigger.

The Gorgona was closing in from the side. It lowered to match the Eriadore’s altitude and steadily shortened the distance from the rear right.

Even though they had "said their goodbyes," it was like an unwanted friend chasing after them.

"...Is it coming towards us?" "Could it be...?"

As the voices of the crew carried their unease through the voice pipe— "All hands, prepare for combat! They’re going to fire!!" Balthazar’s voice rang out. He must have spotted the Gorgona’s rear gun turret aimed at them from the tail.

──The Gorgona was about to attack the Eriadore!

In the instant Kiyoaki realized this, a barrage of 15mm machine gun fire erupted from the Gorgona’s left side.

The sky to Kiyoaki’s right was sliced apart by thousands of tracer rounds. "Evade!!" Kiyoaki frantically swung the controls. The Eriadore slid through the air with agonizing slowness.

Bullets thudded into the fuselage. At the same time, Cecil in the right-side gun turret and Reiner in the upper turret opened fire. The Eriadore had five 15mm machine guns in total—only half as many as the Gorgona. In firepower, speed, maneuverability, and defense, the Gorgona outclassed them in every way.

"They're not backing off, they’re coming right at us!"

Rather than being intimidated, the Gorgona seemed to relish the challenge of a gunfight, closing the distance even further.

The space between the two massive aircraft was filled with the deadly exchange of machine gun fire, the air itself burning red with tracer rounds. It was like a naval battle, with each ship bombarding the other’s broadside until one of them sank.

"This is insane!"

"Even bomber pilots want to fight. If this keeps up, Cecil will be in danger!"

Illia’s words jolted Kiyoaki. The right side of the airship was taking the brunt of the enemy fire, and Cecil was stationed in the right-side gun turret.

"I’m going to descend! Everyone, find cover in the clouds!"

Kiyoaki pushed the control stick forward. The Eriadore, lacking in agility, could at least gain some speed by descending. If they tried to engage head-on, they’d be torn to pieces. Their only hope was to find a cloud to hide in or keep dodging until nightfall.

The Eriadore’s 40-meter wings groaned as the ship plummeted toward the ocean. The wind howled past the cockpit as they dove from 2,500 meters.

They struggled to shake off their pursuer, but the Gorgona was relentless, descending in parallel, its 13 machine gunners howling as they unleashed thousands of rounds. The right side of the airship continued to take heavy fire.

"Cecil, Cecil, are you okay?!"

Illia called through the voice pipe. There was no response. "Cecil!!" For once, emotion slipped into Illia’s voice. She and Cecil had been together since their days in the gymnasium, like sisters. When it came to Cecil, even Illia couldn’t stay calm.

"I’m alive, I’m shooting from the right turret! I just don’t have time to answer! Illia, focus on flying!"

Reiner, from the upper turret, reported Cecil’s status. With everyone’s view restricted, they had to rely on the voice pipe to share what each person could see.

At 500 meters, Kiyoaki leveled out the airship. But as he looked ahead, despair washed over him.

"There’s no clouds...!!"

The sky was nearly clear. Only a few scattered, small clouds floated about, none large enough to hide in. The sun still hung just above the horizon, illuminating everything in sight.

They had nowhere to hide. They couldn’t outrun the Gorgona, and if they tried to fight, the overwhelming firepower would destroy them.

──We’re going to be shot down.

A cold knot formed in his stomach at the realization. There was no way out. "They’re circling around to the left, 110 degrees!"

Kagura’s voice crackled through the voice pipe. The enemy had torn apart the right side of the airship and was now repositioning to attack the left.

"They’re flying in a zigzag pattern, staying on us. These guys are used to hunting airships!"

Illia warned. Their pursuit was flawless. They must have practiced this many times against Akitsu Federation airships.

The Gorgona stuck close to their left rear, just as they were about to catch up again.

And suddenly, they accelerated, moving alongside the Eriadore, ready to fire

from their side turrets.

This time, the left side of the airship was riddled with thousands of bullets. And standing there— "Kagura!! Kagura!!"

Kiyoaki screamed. The image of his sister, who had died protecting him in a cornfield, overlapped with Kagura. He could feel the warmth of blood and the memory of a fading body as it seeped back into him.

"Kiyoaki, bank hard!!"

Illia’s shout snapped him back to reality. He frantically turned the controls to put distance between them and the enemy. The air was filled with the roar of machine gun fire, and it was impossible to hear the voices coming through the voice pipe clearly.

"Is everyone okay? Does anyone have injuries?!"

Kiyoaki called out through the voice pipe. Only Reiner and Balthazar responded. He couldn’t tell if Cecil, Kagura, or Mio were unharmed.

"Damn it, back off!!"

Kiyoaki cursed as he tried to shake off the Gorgona, but it pursued like a hungry wolf, toying with the helpless airship.

"You bastards...!!"

Hatred for Urano welled up inside him.

For killing his family, for taking his homeland, and now, for trying to destroy his ship and his comrades.

"Kiyoaki, turn the tail toward the enemy. We can't win in a broadside battle. Align the stern with the enemy, and we’ll even the firepower."

Balthazar’s calm voice broke through Kiyoaki’s fury.

It was true. In a broadside battle, their firepower was no match for the Gorgona. But if they turned the tail directly toward the enemy, the rear turret would face off against the Gorgona’s front turret, balancing the firepower. However, this would put Balthazar, manning the tail gun, in the most dangerous position. The rear gunner of a large airship often had the highest casualty rate.

"Captain...!"

"Don’t misunderstand, I’m doing this to survive. Do it quickly, we won’t last much longer."

"...Yes, sir!"

Kiyoaki couldn’t see the Gorgona from the cockpit. He had to rely on the reports coming through the voice pipe to maneuver the ship and aim the rear toward the enemy.

In a dogfight between fighters, getting behind the enemy was the key to victory.

But in a battle between large aircraft with turrets all around, being behind wasn’t necessarily a disadvantage. It was about focusing your firepower on the enemy’s weak points.

"160 degrees to the left! They’re accelerating to match our speed!"

Kagura’s voice came through again. She sounded strained, possibly injured, but she pushed herself to speak.

"Grr..."

Kiyoaki clenched his teeth and glared through the windshield. He had to trust Kagura’s report and turn the ship’s tail toward the enemy. He called through the voice pipe.

"Kagura, we can’t see the Gorgona from here. Tell me when to turn!" "Not yet, not yet...!" The Gorgona’s engines roared closer from the left rear. It seemed they wanted to keep flying in formation and continue the bombardment.

"They’re toying with us...!"

Illia muttered a curse as she glared out at the left side of the sky. From their position in the cockpit, they couldn’t even see the enemy. All they could rely on were the reports from their comrades.

The seven of them had to work together as one. If they didn’t, they’d be shot down. Kiyoaki focused on the voice pipe, waiting for Kagura’s signal. The unnerving hum of the Gorgona’s four engines grew louder.

His anxiety spiked. He was terrified. He wanted to turn the rudder right now. "Not yet, hold on...!" As if sensing Kiyoaki’s impatience, Kagura held him back. Beside him, Illia slipped her feet into the foot pedals and grasped the controls. The strength of her grip on the shared controls transmitted through to Kiyoaki’s arms.

Illia didn’t say anything.

But through the controls they held together, Kiyoaki could feel her determination.

──You’re not alone. We’re all flying together.

That fact turned into courage, and a strong resolve to survive together bloomed inside him.

"They're coming...!"

The moment Kagura’s voice rang out.

A thunderous roar of machine gun fire ripped through the Eriadore’s left side. "Kagura!!" "Rudder, now!!"

As Kagura’s voice cut through the gunfire, Kiyoaki slammed his foot into the right pedal.

The 25-meter-long airship groaned as it turned, bringing its tail toward the

Gorgona’s side.

Balthazar aimed the rear turret at the Gorgona’s cockpit.

All of the Gorgona’s right-side turrets now targeted Balthazar. "Captain!!" At that moment, both aircraft unleashed their machine gun fire, the bullets crossing through the air.

Tracer rounds scorched the sky, streaking past the cockpit. Armor-piercing rounds punched through the fuselage, sending sparks flying inside the ship.

The Gorgona swung its nose to the right, trying to move alongside them again. "Rudder, now!!" Just before they were caught, Kagura shouted again. For the second time, Kiyoaki turned right, and Balthazar sprayed 15mm bullets into the enemy’s side. The Gorgona, despite taking hits, stubbornly pursued them, trying to line up alongside again.

"Back off, damn you...!!"

Kiyoaki dodged frantically as the Eriadore was riddled with holes. Spinning from side to side, he kept positioning the tail toward the enemy. The nauseating spinning motion continued, but whoever gave up first would lose.

"Rudder... now!!"

On Kagura’s sixth command, Kiyoaki hit the right pedal again, and Balthazar fired the rear guns.

The next moment— "Full retreat!!" Balthazar’s order echoed through the voice pipe. Without seeing what had happened, Illia pushed the four engines to full throttle.

"Run, run, run!!"

With no idea what had occurred, Kiyoaki followed Balthazar’s lead and flew full speed ahead.

"They’re not chasing us! They’re pulling away!!" "They’ve been hit! The cockpit was hit!!"

Kagura and Reiner reported. Kiyoaki craned his neck to look out the right side of the cockpit, and sure enough, the Gorgona had tilted and was retreating. They hadn’t shot it down, but it seemed a critical hit had been landed. The aggressive chase from earlier had vanished, and the enemy was retreating swiftly.

"We made it...!"

By consistently keeping the rear of the airship toward the enemy’s side, they had reduced their own vulnerability while concentrating their fire on the enemy. Though the odds had been slim, they had managed to land a hit on the Gorgona’s cockpit. Balthazar’s leadership and his willingness to risk himself had paid off.

But after taking so much fire, was Balthazar okay?

"Is everyone alright?"

Balthazar’s calm voice cut through the uncertainty. Everyone responded that they were safe. They were all likely injured to some degree, but no one was bothering to report minor wounds. Kiyoaki, too, felt relieved after confirming everyone’s safety.

"Don’t celebrate just yet. We’ve only survived this immediate danger. While the sun is still up, don’t leave your positions at the guns."

"Yes, sir!"

Everyone responded through the voice pipe. Then, Illia, unusually, asked a question from beside him.

"Who hit them just now?"

The intention behind Illia's earlier question still puzzled Kiyoaki, so he asked again with suspicion.

"You mean the shot that hit the enemy's cockpit?"

Illia kept her eyes fixed ahead, her expression tense, but she corrected herself.

"...It was too precise. Up until then, the shots had scattered frustratingly, but suddenly, it was as if... someone had intentionally aimed for the enemy's cockpit."

"Are you saying it wasn't a stray bullet?"

"...No. It was a well-aimed shot, distinct from the previous ones... almost like a sniper’s precision."

If someone in the gun turrets had indeed targeted the enemy cockpit, that would be an extraordinary display of skill.

"Are you suggesting that someone with such remarkable marksmanship is among the cadets on this ship?"

"...I'm probably overthinking it. Forget I said anything. It might be the effects of flying at high altitudes for too long."

Illia dismissed the conversation just as Balthazar's voice came through the voice pipe.

"Until sunset, we’ll continue flying while keeping watch. Everyone, check for damage nearby and handle any repairs you can."

Hearing that, Kiyoaki looked around the cockpit. Fortunately, it was mostly intact.

However, the fuselage's wiring—

"The pipe systems are damaged. We also need to check for damage to the lower part of the ship. And engine number four seems to be acting up as well."

Illia reported after inspecting the instrument panel. For now, there was no immediate issue with flight, but she informed Balthazar of the situation.

As Kiyoaki noticed, the sun had finally dipped below the horizon.

The lingering glow still painted the western sky, but it was fading as they flew

onward. Gentle nightfall descended from the zenith, and Kiyoaki couldn’t remember feeling more grateful for the arrival of darkness.

Just as he was about to let out a sigh of relief, Mio’s voice came through the voice pipe.

"Uh—sorry, but I have some bad news." The crew fell into silence once again. "I've lost our position. We... don't know where we are." Another wave of heavy silence swept through the airship. This was a situation they had anticipated. After engaging in air combat and executing rapid maneuvers, it had become impossible to accurately measure wind direction and speed. Without landmarks to rely on for dead reckoning, the only navigation method left was celestial navigation, but now that the sun had set, they couldn’t use that either.

Mio continued her explanation.

"Technically, we can still navigate by reading the stars to figure out our heading. However, I don’t know how much we've drifted off course. We can aim for Chandler Fortress, but if we miscalculate, we might end up flying over an enemy base. That’s the situation."

The silence was palpable. One problem after another. Balthazar eventually responded.

"That means we'll have to fly through the night based on instinct." "...Yes, that’s what it comes down to." "What's done is done. Cecil, keep monitoring for enemy communications. If we get close to an enemy base, we should pick up some signals. The last thing we want is to encounter night fighters."

"Yes, I’ll do my best...!"

Night fighters—two-seater aircraft equipped with onboard radar that could track and attack even in the dead of night. For an airship, they were the most dangerous adversary in the dark.

"According to our initial plan, we should pass 130 kilometers off Odessa Fortress in about five hours. But that’s just an estimate..."

Mio's voice trailed off uncertainly. Ideally, they would have moonlight to help, but unfortunately, thick clouds obscured the sky. With no visible moon or stars, they couldn’t rely on the shadows of islands to gauge their position.

As if reveling in the peril they faced, the night deepened, and the clouds above thickened, blotting out the heavens.

The cockpit was engulfed in darkness. No stars, no sea below, no clouds—just the endless, inky black. Kiyoaki flew, relying only on the compass, altimeter, and speedometer.

──What a lonely world.

With the sun gone, the world outside the windows was as if a black curtain had been draped over everything. The only light was the faint green glow of the radium dials on the instrument panel. They were cruising at 2,500 meters at 240 kilometers per hour, but with no change in the scenery, it barely felt like they

were flying at all—it was more like sitting in a museum cockpit display.

Out of the corner of his eye, Kiyoaki saw Illia, also swallowed by the darkness. The radium glow softly illuminated her silhouette.

The only sounds were the distant drone of the four engines and the oppressive silence of the night.

"It's so quiet," Kiyoaki remarked, trying to break the eerie stillness. "Yeah." Illia's curt reply only returned them to the heavy silence, filled again with nothing but engine noise.

"We’re supposed to switch shifts every three hours, right? Shouldn’t it be about time?" Kiyoaki asked, knowing the answer but trying to keep the conversation going.

"Twenty-three minutes left."

"Got it. Sorry, were you sleeping?" "No." "Oh, okay."

Having run out of things to say, Kiyoaki gripped the controls again. After everything that had happened on the island and in the air battle, he still didn’t know if the distance between him and Illia had grown closer or further apart.

Just then, Reiner’s voice shattered the silence.

"Can we climb above the clouds? I need to take a star reading."

His job as the upper turret gunner was to check the stars and confirm whether they were still on course. In the current situation, Reiner’s work had become crucial.

"Understood. Climbing now," Kiyoaki responded, pulling back on the control stick. The propeller hum shifted as the Eriadore ascended into the clouds.

Raindrops streaked across the windshield. The sound of the wings slicing through the clouds was faint but audible.

The clouds were surprisingly thick. They ascended 500 meters but still hadn’t broken through.

The temperature inside the cockpit dropped. It was cold. Kiyoaki prayed the wings and control surfaces wouldn’t ice up as he continued the climb.

Then, suddenly, the clouds parted. "Whoa." Beyond the windshield was a sea of stars, tinged with a faint purple glow.

Thousands of stars poured down from the heavens, reflected on the ragged surface of the clouds below. It was a mystical, otherworldly sight, dominated by shades of violet. The view above the clouds was so drastically different, it felt like they had entered another world.

"Wow…!"

Kiyoaki couldn’t hold back his gasp of wonder. After being trapped in the pitch- black void, the sudden brilliance of the stars felt overwhelming.

Without warning, Illia pointed at a corner of the sky. "A shooting star..." Her usual blunt, masculine tone was absent—this was a rare glimpse of her more vulnerable side. Kiyoaki followed her finger, and sure enough, there was a meteor streaking down from the southeast.

It was an odd phenomenon.

Meteors were pouring in from the southeast, crossing the sky above the Eriadore and continuing past them to the northwest. There wasn’t just one—they came in dozens, hundreds, an endless stream of red, blue, and green streaks, all radiating from a single point in the sky.

"What is this…!"

Stars weren’t supposed to move. But here, it was like the sky had become a highway for stars. The Eriadore flew through the cloud ocean, moving against the flow of the stars.

"This doesn’t feel real…"

Illia whispered in awe. Then Reiner’s voice came through the voice pipe, offering an explanation.

"It’s the Etica Meteor Shower. It happens every few years, but even astronomers can’t predict when it’ll occur. We’re lucky to see it from here—this is the best spot for watching it. Look, all the stars are shooting out from Etica."

Sure enough, every meteor was emanating from the fixed star Etica in the night sky. It was like Etica was firing arrows of light, a mythical display.

Kiyoaki glanced at Illia.

Her face, illuminated by the green glow of the radium dials, stood out against the backdrop of the starry shower, like an emerald gem glowing amidst the cascade of colors.

Beneath the starry sky, Illia seemed even more captivating.

"It’s hard to believe this is the same sky we flew under earlier..." "Yeah. It’s hard to believe this is a battlefield..." With the stars raining down around them, Kiyoaki felt as if he and Illia were flying together through this spectral world. He couldn’t help but think, if only they could keep flying like this forever...

The starry downpour didn’t cease. It seemed endless. With his heart adrift in the wonder of it all, Kiyoaki flew through the dreamlike night.

"...It’s time to switch."

Illia suddenly spoke in a low voice. Checking his watch, Kiyoaki saw that exactly three hours had passed since they had taken off.

"Right. Let’s switch."

Since they could fly from the co-pilot’s seat just as easily as from the main

seat, there was no need to physically change places. Kiyoaki simply handed control of the ship over to Illia.

"If you’d like, I can handle the throttle." "...Sure. Thanks." Perhaps because of the meteor shower, Illia’s tone seemed softer... or at least Kiyoaki hoped so. He decided it was the right moment to address something he’d been meaning to say since their argument over their fathers.

"Illia, there’s something I’ve been wanting to clear up. It’s about a misunderstanding you have. I doubt even Captain Karsten knows about this... Can I tell you?"

Illia stayed silent, gripping the controls for a while before responding in her usual, flat, robotic tone.

"If this is about our fathers, I’ve already heard enough. There’s nothing more to say."

"...Yeah. I’ve said my piece too... but there’s one thing I want you to believe."

Only silence greeted him. The engine’s drone echoed faintly across the starry night.

"...If you want to talk to yourself, I won’t stop you." After a long pause, Illia finally spoke in a low voice. Kiyoaki nodded and began his "soliloquy." "My father didn’t like talking about the war... No matter how much I asked, he never told me stories about flying planes or shooting down enemies. But there was one time... I overheard him talking to my mom, after he’d had too much to drink…"

Illia kept her eyes on the sky, not turning to face Kiyoaki.

"That day, there had been a funeral for one of his old friends. Dad wasn’t much of a drinker, but that night he drank a lot. And while he was talking, the duel he had with Captain Karsten came up."

The dim light of the radium dials cast a faint glow on Illia’s face. Her expression remained unchanged, but as the stars streaked past, her emerald eyes seemed to shimmer with the colors of the sky, like an aurora.

"He said it was the best moment of his life. That nothing before or after that could compare. All the hard studying, the intense training, even his very reason for being born—it was all for that duel with Captain Karsten. That’s what he said."

Illia slowly turned to face Kiyoaki.

It was the first time she had looked at him since they had sat down together in the cockpit.

"He said he’d never experienced anything like it before. The maneuvers he pulled off during that fight had never come to him before. It felt like he was dancing with Captain Karsten. Sure, it was exhausting. He could barely breathe, his blood was pooling in his extremities, his eyes felt like they were about to pop out from the steep dives. But despite the pain, he felt nothing but happiness. His instincts as a pilot were in full force, using every bit of skill, will, and

soul to battle the strongest opponent he’d ever faced. And after all this time, after stepping away from flying, he realized... that duel was the peak of his life. He was born for that duel with Captain Karsten. That’s what he said."

Kiyoaki locked eyes with Illia.

Her emerald eyes, softly glowing with radium light, shone with a depth far beyond that of any machine.

"...That’s all. That’s the end of my ‘soliloquy.’ If you’re willing, I’d appreciate it if you told Captain Karsten. I think my father would’ve been happy."

Illia’s intense gaze stayed on Kiyoaki, her expression unreadable. Then she abruptly asked,

"Is Flight Master Sakagami still alive?"

"...No. He passed away three years ago, during the invasion of Messus Island by Urano."

"Was he killed in action?"

"No. By then, he’d left the military and was farming on Messus Island. He and my mother were shot by an Urano fighter plane."

"...That’s hard to believe. A former pilot being gunned down by a fighter plane on the ground? A flight master could’ve hidden or shifted out of the line of fire."

Kiyoaki fought back tears. Every time he told this story, his chest filled with a swirling mix of emotions that he couldn’t fully control.

"...There was a school near my father’s farm. The fighter was about to strafe the schoolchildren. My parents left the feed shed they were hiding in and waved to the Urano fighter, drawing attention to themselves. While the plane chased them, the children escaped into the hills... My father and mother kept dodging, evading the line of fire, but eventually, they were surrounded by more planes...”

He couldn’t continue. His words trailed off as he bowed his head to hide the tears. He wiped his eyes quickly, hoping Illia wouldn’t notice.

To escape being strafed by a fighter, one had to wait until the last second and dodge to the side. The plane’s fixed guns could only fire straight ahead along its axis, so any lateral movement would take them out of the line of fire. Masaharu had repeated this maneuver with his wife many times, drawing the enemy's attention. But provoking Urano’s aggressive fighters had a predictable outcome. In the end, they drew eight planes toward them and were surrounded, shot to pieces, giving their lives to save the children.

Illia stared at Kiyoaki with a stony expression for a while before speaking. "...You expect me to believe that?" Kiyoaki remained silent, unable to answer as his emotions churned.

"...Don’t be ridiculous. You’re trying to make some hero out of him with a fabricated story... It’s absurd."

It’s true, Kiyoaki wanted to say, but the words wouldn’t come out.

"...I refuse to believe it. That your father... was shot down by mine in a one- on-one duel... I’ll never believe that."

Kiyoaki struggled to find his voice but managed to force out a response.

"...That’s your decision to make. But what I said about how my parents died— that’s the truth. My father really was that kind of person. Awkward, honest to a fault, sincere, the kind of man who would die protecting other people’s children. That’s just who he was. So... the image of my father you’ve heard from others is different from the man I knew."

Illia fell silent again, turning her face back toward the front, staring at the distant fixed star, Etica.

Etica, the name meaning "ethics."

As the stream of stars poured from Etica toward them, Illia felt an indefinable feeling rise within her, as if the star was whispering something to her.

──What is ethics?

The question lingered in Illia’s mind.

She had never considered such a thing before, having been trained from childhood solely in the art of piloting airships.

──Ethics is the path to seeking what is right as a human being... Illia felt as though Etica had provided the answer. Was Kiyoaki’s story true? She didn’t know. But at the very least, she decided she would strive to be correct, to be ethical.

With that thought, Illia spoke to Kiyoaki.

"...I don’t believe what you said about the duel. But... I offer my condolences for Flight Master Sakagami’s passing. And I will tell my father what Flight Master Sakagami said about the duel, as well as how he died."

Kiyoaki raised his head. He could tell that Illia had opened her heart to him, if only a little.

"...Thank you, Illia. My father really respected Captain Karsten and was grateful for the chance to fight him. Please, tell him that much."

"...I will. Let’s consider this matter settled." "...Yeah, let’s." "...You should get some rest. There’s still a long way to go." "Yeah. I think I’ll check on Mio first." Leaving Illia in control, Kiyoaki unfastened his seatbelt and climbed down the ladder toward the nose turret. He and Mio had left things unresolved before the mission, and he was worried she might have been hurt during the air battle.

Mio was seated at the nose gun, staring intently at the wind gauge.

Through the hemispherical glass canopy, the Etica meteor shower streamed past, casting colorful reflections in her golden hair.

"Hey, Mio. Are you okay? You’re not hurt, are you?"

Mio glanced briefly at Kiyoaki before closing the voice pipe lid with a sharp click, snorting in response.

"Unfortunately, I’m fine. Sorry to disappoint you I survived." Still inexplicably upset, it seemed. "What’s with that attitude? I don’t get it. We just survived a life-or-death situation. Shouldn’t you be a little happier?"

"I don’t know. You idiot. Pervert. Just go back to the cockpit and keep whispering sweet nothings to Illia about how beautiful the stars are."

Kiyoaki facepalmed and hung his head for a moment before finally realizing what Mio was upset about.

"...Oh, I see. You’ve got this all wrong. Look, we’re pilots. We have to work together to fly this ship. It’s not about flirting—we have to be on the same page, or we won’t make it. We’re officer cadets, so you should understand that."

Mio glared at him with cold eyes for a long moment before abruptly spinning her chair around to face him, adopting a mockingly dramatic tone.

"Illia, there’s something I’ve been wanting to clear up. I need you to understand…"

Kiyoaki’s face turned pale in an instant. "I need you to believe me, Illia!" Mio threw her arms wide and exaggeratedly repeated the words Kiyoaki had spoken to Illia earlier.

Oh no—Kiyoaki buried his head in his hands.

He had completely forgotten, but on the airship, conversations were broadcasted through the voice pipes, meaning everything he had said to Illia had been overheard by the entire crew.

"It’s fine, really. But wow, you sure can talk, huh? I didn’t know you had it in you."

Having said her piece, Mio turned her chair back to the canopy and resumed staring at the instruments, not sparing Kiyoaki another glance.

It wasn’t embarrassing for him to say what he’d said. He could be proud of that. But he hadn’t expected it to be broadcasted to the entire ship. That was mortifying.

He raised his head and saw that Mio had already covered the voice pipe, ensuring that their current conversation wouldn’t be overheard.

"Uh... Mio. Yes. I explained things to Illia. Yes. I passionately explained them. That’s true. But... is that something for you to be angry about? Why are you upset?"

"I’m not angry." "Yes, you are." "You’re persistent. I said I’m not angry."

"...I don’t get it. Ever since this mission started, you’ve been acting strange. This isn’t like you at all."

"This is exactly like me. I’m always like this. Now just go back to the cockpit—

I’m busy with navigation."

It was clear that further conversation would be pointless. Thinking it might be better to give her some space, Kiyoaki shrugged and climbed back up the ladder.

Settling back into his seat in the cockpit, he checked the instrument panel. Taking Illia’s advice, he decided to get some rest. Soon, they would be entering the enemy base’s radar range...