Toaru Hikuushi e no Seiyaku:V3Part5

Part 22 (Part 5 of Volume 3) The sea spray was lifted high into the sky, obscuring the sunlight and hiding even the rainbow. Like a divine millstone, the thunderclouds draped themselves over the rice fields.

Twisting and swirling like a spiral, the immense millstone moved slowly towards the southeast, rotating the clouds as if they were a melody. The true nature of the swirling clouds, described as the "Dragon's Nest," was an extraordinarily large typhoon with a diameter of over 1,600 kilometres and maximum wind speeds exceeding 50 meters per second.

In September, typhoons frequently occur in the North-South Multi-Island Sea.

This was the fourth typhoon of the year, but its scale was exceptionally large. On the islands in the typhoon's path, preparations for the safety of crops and buildings were likely in full swing. Like a divine beast moving over the sea, the typhoon swallowed everything in its path and advanced southward.

In the year 1348 of the Empire's Chronicle, September, two hundred nautical miles north of Crossnodar Island in the North Multi-Island Sea──.

There were two flying islands, trailing at a horizontal distance of 20,000 meters from the super gigantic typhoon.

Both were enormous floating islands nearly fifteen kilometres long and five kilometres wide. Below them were long, powerful rudder mechanisms, and on the surface, there were airfields and countless anti-aircraft gun emplacements and anti-ship batteries glaring at the sky like hedgehogs.

Uranos Fortress No. 9 "Kalkinos," Fortress No. 11 "Balsinos."

Of the four flying fortresses dispatched to the Multi-Island Sea area, two were now moving south, close to the super gigantic typhoon.

At the tip of the island, there was the Uranos Fortress command centre, protected by concrete armour and thick bulletproof glass. Surrounded by several staff officers, a middle-aged soldier wearing a shoulder insignia indicating a minor rank observed the typhoon through binoculars.

──Operation Judeka.

Muttering the name of this operation to himself, Commander Lysander Kepla of Kalkinos lowered his binoculars to visually confirm the state of the super gigantic typhoon named "Judeka."

"It's an unprecedented operation."

His tone held no sarcasm; rather, it was filled with anticipation for the adventure ahead. Although Lysander had been critical of the integrated operations headquarters' methods, he was unusually enthusiastic about this "Judeka Operation."

"Interesting. If it goes well, it will surely be etched into the annals of world warfare."

While gazing at the Judeka, which painted the sky and sea in dark gray, he spoke to the navigation officer beside him. The navigation officer did not hide his grim expression.

"I hope you also understand the struggles of those on the front lines."

"Compared to aerial assaults and naval bombardments, typhoons are trivial. The wind and rain cannot destroy concrete armour."

"Staying hidden in the typhoon for nearly a week while concealing radio communications is concerning for troop morale, and won’t the underground storage become waterlogged?"

"If we start counting negatives, we’ll never finish. As a surprise attack, it makes perfect sense. Who would expect two flying fortresses to approach amidst a typhoon? In this age of omnipotent radar, attempting a surprise attack with cumbersome flying fortresses is truly an amusing plan."

Lysander laughed heartily. The navigation officer returned a serious expression, turning his attention back to the multi-island sea map on the operations table. On it, the predicted path of the typhoon led to Air Hunt Island.

"If the typhoon veers away from Air hunt Island, that would be troublesome."

"In that case, we can turn back and retreat. The odds are fifty-fifty, but it’s worth taking the risk. If all goes as planned, our swords will be thrust deep into the enemy's throat. The course of the war will change. …Well then. Shall we proceed? Are we ready?"

Receiving confirmation from the air and communication officers, Lysander issued the order.

"Steering apparatus, reduce speed to 12 knots. Entering Judeka. For a while, we won’t see the sun, so engrave its image into your minds."

The navigation officer held the microphone to his mouth and relayed the current order throughout the island. Soldiers on the ground, bidding farewell to the sun, moved towards the underground living quarters. All aircraft had already been stored in the underground hangars, and only concrete buildings fortified against wind and water remained on the surface.

Kalkinos and Balsinos, the two flying fortresses, stealthily approached the super gigantic typhoon "Judeka."

On the surface of Kalkinos, there was one person──.

In contrast to the stream of personnel flowing into the underground, someone remained at the last corner of the airfield, gazing at the typhoon.

Amidst the well-groomed soldiers, there was a man with a peculiar appearance.

Clad in a wrinkled, tattered military uniform, he leaned on a cane with his right hand.

His right foot was barefoot. What protruded from the hem of his trousers was not an ankle but a wooden stick. Firmly planted on the ground, the man, with a shabby prosthetic leg, stood still, staring intently at the typhoon.

His face was wrapped in bandages.

A small opening was made for his eyes, nose, and mouth, ensuring he could see and breathe. The exposed skin peeking through the small gap was covered in keloids, suggesting he had suffered severe burns across his face in the past. Without a military cap, the man had bandages wrapped around his head and stood there without moving.

Someone could have called out to him to take him underground, but no one approached him. He seemed to exist on a different plane than ordinary people.

After observing the typhoon until he grew tired, the man turned and began to walk unsteadily. With a hunched back and an unstable gait that made it look like he might fall at any moment, he barely managed to keep his balance, resembling an old man as he stepped onto the stairs leading down to the underground facility.

The man walked alone through the narrow underground passage.

Two lieutenants, laughing as they approached from the other side, noticed him, gasped in alarm, their expressions stiffening, and both pressed themselves against the wall, looking up at him in respect as he passed. The man walked by slowly, tapping the floor with his cane, without returning their nod. The lieutenants remained motionless against the wall until he disappeared down the corridor.

At every place the man went, the Uranos personnel reacted the same way.

They merely feared and made way. Mechanics, pilots, officers, engine personnel, and supply personnel all knew his face, yet no one spoke to him. They merely stiffened their expressions, suppressing screams, and made way for him.

Eventually, the bandaged man reached the underground hangar for the flying machines.

Afterward, he began to wander through the hangar as if searching for a lost treasure.

Noticing him, a mechanic cautiously approached the bandaged man and pointed to a single seat fighter aircraft.

Without expressing thanks, the bandaged man walked unsteadily toward the indicated aircraft.

He stuck a staff at his waist and clung to the wings, desperately trying to climb up. His movements were awkward, like a caterpillar crawling up a tree branch. A mechanic, unable to watch any longer, rushed over to help, but the bandaged man turned around, clinging to the wings, and glared with his keloid-covered eyes.

"Gi...!"

A strange growl reverberated from beneath the bandages. The intimidated mechanic let out a short scream and stayed put. The bandaged man twisted his body and climbed up onto the wings, then rolled into the cockpit with the same motion.

This was where he slept.

Although a special room was prepared in the living quarters, the bandaged man never approached it, always sleeping alone in the cramped cockpit.

The mechanic gazed at the cockpit with a look of disbelief before turning his gaze to the nose of the aircraft.

It was decorated with a black panther's nose art.

In the same league as Akmed from Valkyrie, there was the emblem of the "King of the Skies."

──Karnasion.

The King of the Skies was now curled up like a caterpillar in the cockpit, waiting for the day he would soar into battle.

Though Karnasion found it difficult to walk on the ground, in the sky he maneuverer fighter planes freely, transforming into a black panther that hunted down any prey. With an ugly appearance and a lost right leg, his throat covered in keloids, he could barely speak, making the ground feel like hell to him. The only place he could behave freely was in the cockpit of a fighter plane. The aircraft now responded to his desires more than his own body, projecting the aerial manoeuvres he imagined into the sky.

To Karnasion, his beloved machine was his own flesh and blood.

In this miserable state, crawling on the ground, he was merely a husk. A husk needed no family, friends, or lovers—only his beloved machine.

Inside the cockpit, he closed his eyes, feeling comforted as the aircraft gently cradled his ugly self. Karnasion and the Type 3 Idra had completely merged, becoming one being.

Karnasion, who loved the sky more than anyone, also wanted to be loved by the sky more than anyone. He could not accept that anything else could be more loved than him by the sky. If such a presence existed, he would have to shoot it down for the sake of his pride.

Even in the next battlefield, he wanted to be the one most loved by the sky. He must make the skies above Air Hunt Island his own.

Offering that prayer, Karnasion fell asleep.

The sounds of wind and rain from afar grew more intense. The airship was entering the typhoon as planned──.

Though I wondered how it would turn out, it wasn't all bad.

Previously, just receiving a command was a hassle that required going through a cumbersome messenger. But now, I had the best communication method, Fio, at my disposal. There were times I regretted getting in touch with Mio out of curiosity, but communication with the secret intelligence division was immensely convenient now.

"Thanks to that, this kind of job is now possible."

In the moonlit midnight, standing in a wetsuit on the rocky shore near Sanjiru Bay, southwest of Air Hunt Island, Reiner smiled at his partner.

"…Where did you get that?"

Mio asked coldly, her gaze fixed on Reiner, who was carrying an oxygen tank.

"If you sneak into the naval storage, there’s plenty to go around."

Checking the small light attached to his head, Reiner carelessly replied as he tucked a small knife into his waist pocket. It sounded simple, but sneaking into a military supply depot closely monitored by soldiers and stealing this diving gear was no small feat.

"Then keep an eye out. If anyone comes, either scare them off or move to another spot. I’m counting on you."

Saying this, Reiner put on a full-face mask. A covert operative for underwater infiltration had to excel in all kinds of skills, but Reiner surprised me with his abilities in both theft and diving techniques.

"See you."

Mio sighed and waved to Reiner. In the moonlight, Reiner smiled behind the mask, gave a thumbs up, and plunged into the sea.

The waves soon settled as if nothing had happened. Mio sat on a flat rock, gazing wistfully at the full moon reflected on the water’s surface.

──What am I doing…?

Lately, I had begun to abandon my thoughts. Losing interest in my own future made everything seem inconsequential. Like a mechanical puppet, I received messages through Fio, passed the content to Reiner without reading it, tied Reiner's replies to Fio’s legs, and occasionally accompanied Reiner in his suspicious activities. I didn’t want to know what he was doing, nor had I ever asked. I was afraid of understanding the meaning behind his actions.

In Sanjiru Bay, red and orange lights sparkled everywhere. It looked like a seaside city, but a fleet was anchored in two columns. The shimmering artificial lights under the starlight appeared fantastical, like something from a fairy tale. Yet, when battle commenced, a single battleship could unleash firepower equivalent to five divisions—a deadly weapon of slaughter.

After waiting for a little over an hour, Reiner surfaced.

Dripping seawater, he climbed onto the rocks, discarded his full-face mask, and grinned playfully at Mio.

"Success. Big score."

"…………"

"Want to know what I did?"

"I don't want to know."

"You're so cold. Even though you're an accomplice."

"…It’s over, right? I’m going home."

"I'll take you close to school. Just wait a bit."

Reiner quickly changed into his uniform, tossed the oxygen tank and fins into the sea, and stuffed the remaining diving gear into his backpack.

"Alright. Mission accomplished. Get on."

Mio silently accepted the helmet from Reiner and sat on the back of the bike.

"You can cling to me, you know?"

"I decline."

Rejecting him outright, she grasped the tandem grips on either side of the rear seat. Reiner laughed merrily and kicked the starter.

It was 2 AM. They rode along a deserted, pitch-black public road.

Mio remained silent, gazing at the passing night scenery.

──Where am I going…?

Suddenly, a wave of anxiety surged within me. I barely managed to suppress the urge to scream.

"Let’s stop here. If we go back together, it’ll look suspicious."

About twenty minutes on foot from school, Reiner planted one foot on the ground. Mio got off the back seat and returned the helmet to Reiner.

"Recently, your attitude seems to have improved a bit."

"…What do you mean by that?"

“It’s not as bad as it used to be. Honestly, I wish you would smile a bit more, but I guess that’s asking for too much.”

What Reiner was talking about was Mio’s everyday life. Since being told about what Ethan was doing, Mio had cut off all communication, but since the summer break, she had gradually started exchanging words with those around her.

“Maybe you’re just getting used to it. I hope you can soon trick everyone while laughing like me.”

“...There’s no way I can do that.”

“Even if you can’t reach my level, just try to act normally. If you get caught, your parents and siblings will get caught too. Don’t forget that.”

“...I understand. I’ll act normally.”

“Well then.”

“Hey.”

“Hmm?”

“...Don’t you feel anything about this?”

“Huh?”

“...Deceiving everyone every day... Working behind the scenes for Urano like this... Are you okay with it?”

When Reiner realized the intent behind her question, he scoffed mockingly, making a sound in his throat.

“I’m fine. I don’t feel anything. I’m a soldier of Urano, after all. It’s only natural to work for Urano.”

“...”

“It’s worse for those being deceived. In this day and age, weaklings and fools are the real evil. Even Kiyoaki, pretending to be a good person, is just practicing murder, you know? He’s studying how to efficiently massacre a lot of Urano people. What’s wrong with working to kill St Vault people?”

Mio remained silent and couldn’t answer. She had lost track of what was good and what was evil.

“You need to wake up quickly. If you keep moping around, you’ll never go back to how things were.”

Reiner tossed that out in his usual light tone, opened the throttle, and the engine roared as he disappeared into the night.

Staring into the darkness, Mio sighed and walked alone along the night sidewalk.

The summer constellations sparkled like a treasure box from the gods. The night breeze in mid-September carried a hint of autumn.

Almost a month had passed since that night in the cave with Kiyoaki.

The scene from that time was still preserved at the centre of Mio’s consciousness.

The events of that stormy night, where she entrusted everything to Kiyoaki and accepted him as he was.

Just recalling it brought warmth to her body. Feeling shy and unsure of where to put that heat, Mio lifted her right middle finger to her eyes.

A silver ring was fitted there.

The warmth turned into a pang of sadness.

In the summer when she was twelve, she made a promise with Kiyoaki in a field of canola flowers.

“Don’t cheat, okay? We promised we’d get married!”

After forcing Kiyoaki to accept a canola tiara, Mio taught him how to perform the rituals of the Sylvanian royal family.

“After that, I’ll give you a silver ring! That’ll complete the ritual, and our love will be eternal!”

Because they were children, they were fearless. Since then, the invasion of Messus Island had happened, and they had both grown up without ever bringing up that promise again. But Mio had always kept the ring on her finger, thinking that one day she might give it to Kiyoaki.

──But that day would never come.

Mio stopped walking and took the ring off her finger.

Then, holding it tightly, she raised it above her head—thought better of it, and lowered her arm.

“How foolish.”

She composed herself, then told herself:

“I don’t wish for my own happiness anymore. So it’s okay to throw this away.”

She tightened her cheeks and wound up once more—this time, Mio threw the silver ring into the bushes by the roadside.

At the peak of its arc, the ring sparkled in the starlight before disappearing into the underbrush.

“This is it. It’s over.”

Clapping her hands together, she said this to herself and walked toward school.

With each step, the pain in her chest grew stronger.

Kiyoaki’s expressions floated up among the summer constellations.

She had been with him since they were children. She believed she would become his bride.

She had loved him dearly.

And she still loved him.

Even if I try to ignore the voice in my heart, it only grows louder and echoes within me.

Mio turned around, stepped off the path, and ventured into the underbrush.

Shining her penlight into the thicket, she desperately searched for the ring.

"What am I doing?"

She felt like crying but held it back. If she cried now, she would be far too miserable.

"I'm such an idiot."

She plunged her hands into the dark thicket, continuing her search for the lost ring. The light of the moon and stars twinkled brightly, as if trying to help her.

Since the attack on Crossnodar Island by the Urano Air Force, the only gateway for the St Vault Empire's military to land in the South Archipelago Sea had become here, at the Chandler Base on Mauregan Island. Now, this island could be called the headquarters of the St Vault Air Force, with the main ships of the Archipelago Fleet lined up at the military port, and the warehouse district, city, and markets overflowing with soldiers, all buzzing with the excitement of war.

A short distance away from that noise, halfway up a hill overlooking the military port, stood a small two-story building.

The exposed concrete surface gave off a grim atmosphere. The iron-barred entrance was unwelcoming and heavily secured, with several armed soldiers on guard at the entrance.

There was no sign, but inside was the Operations Headquarters of the St Vault Air Force's Archipelago Division. Lieutenant Balthazar Grim, a candidate officer from the intelligence section, was looking out from a second-floor window of that dreary building.

The rows of palm trees basking in the September sunlight swayed ominously in the sea breeze.

The wind was gradually picking up. Typhoon No. 4 was approaching. According to the forecast, the typhoon would skim the north of Mauregan Island tomorrow and move southeast, with expectations to directly hit Air Hunt Island four days later.

Gazing at the deep blue sea in the distance, he took a deep breath to rest his tired eyes from paperwork and faced the mountain of communication records stacked on his desk. These records contained signals sent from enemy forces deployed near Crossnodar Island.

What Balthazar was currently doing was an intelligence mission known as communications intelligence.

By statistically analysing the time a signal was transmitted, the location that was attacked that day, the transmission points of signals sent from enemy aircraft, vessels, and submarines, as well as differences in signal volume during dates when attacks were carried out and not carried out, he could predict to some extent the enemy's attack locations, times, and scale. This required piling up all the intercepted signals and meticulously checking day and night for anything unusual hidden within the data.

He was the lowest ranked in the workplace. Every day, he was chased by miscellaneous tasks unrelated to statistical work, but he endured without complaining. He knew that in order to achieve his grand goals, it was essential to quietly handle these tasks and gain trust within the division first.

It had already been nearly six months since he graduated from Air Hunt Officer Academy.

His classmates had various assignments: some went on training cruises, others were assigned to fleet duties, and some had already been deployed to base air squadrons. He had never been particularly close to anyone in school, so there was no communication, and he didn’t mind at all.

Really. Not at all.

──He didn't mind.

Balthazar told himself this, turning his gaze away from the mountain of documents to look out at the dazzling blue sky.

──There’s no way he could be concerned.

He checked with himself once more.

──It’s not that he’s concerned, but I wonder how Kagura is doing.

He suddenly thought this. Although he didn’t quite understand it himself, several times a day, he found himself wondering about it.

Why was that?

He questioned himself and arrived at an answer.

──It’s because Kagura is assigned to the Voltec Air Force.

Kagura had been assigned to the strongest fighter squadron in the St Vault Air Force. She was probably gripping the controls of a fighter plane right now, soaring freely through the skies.

──That’s what makes him envious.

While he was stuck with mundane work like sifting through a mountain of dirt to find a single grain of gold, Kagura was on the front lines, deployed with a top-tier fighter squadron. From the outside, it was clear that Kagura was an elite officer assigned to a much more glamorous mission.

──That’s why he cares. That’s the conclusion. How ridiculous.

Laughing at his own thoughts, Balthazar faced the mountain of tedious paperwork once again. Most of the content was just a string of incomprehensible call signs. Hundreds of sheets densely filled with this writing were piled on his desk.

──If you want to get promoted quickly, decipher this mass of numbers.

He told himself, meticulously and patiently staring at a group of numerical sequences, recording their patterns, irregularities, and statistically unclear points in a separate notebook.

While continuing this large and concentration-demanding task, there was something that had been bothering him for the past couple of days.

──I wonder how Kagura is doing.

──No, that’s not it. The numbers that have appeared are decidedly different from the usual trends.

Balthazar flipped through the dozens of personal notebooks he had amassed and compared the current communication records with those from the past week, deducing and sniffing out some unclear trends.

──The communication records from the Vestelant continent are unnatural.

Four days ago, suddenly, signals differing from the usual patterns were intercepted from the waters north of Crossnodar Island, closer to the Vestelant continent. Although he couldn’t understand the content, it likely came from an unknown Urano fleet. Then, three days ago, these signals abruptly stopped. Since then, there had been no signals from the relevant waters, nor any large-scale attacks on Crossnodar Island.

──The fleet has vanished.

That’s how it could be interpreted. But they couldn’t just disappear. The enemy fleet was likely enforcing radio communication silence and heading somewhere. Whether it was to dock at the Urano base or to launch an attack on the St Vault base was unclear.

Yesterday, Balthazar reported this matter to the head of the information section. It seemed that similar reports had already come in from other staff, and the head nodded and reported it to the director as a point of concern. Presumably, other capable personnel were involved in the analysis. They should still be in the process of analysing it, but──could they afford to take their time?

Balthazar’s intuition whispered of a crisis.

The job of an information section officer was to statistically analyze vast amounts of data and uncover the enemy’s schemes from it.

From a mere mass of numbers, they had to predict the timing, scale, and location of enemy operations, which required a craftsman’s skill. After thoroughly studying and analysing the data mathematically, they would use their craft instincts to discern the truth──that was the job of a communications intelligence officer.

──Read the truth from the numbers.

Balthazar pored over the mountain of paperwork late into the night, highlighting concerning sections, jotting down notes in his personal notebook, cross-referencing them with past records, and arrived at a certain hypothesis.

──This massive amount of signal transmissions does not come from a fleet. It comes from an air fortress, a floating island.

By comparing the past signal records from the Urano fleet with those intercepted from an Urano air fortress a year and a half ago, he noticed subtle differences in the waves of numbers, leading him to this hypothesis.

──Perhaps two air fortresses have been moving south along the Vestelant continent.

──And three days ago, they sealed off their radio communications.

──What happened on that day?

Balthazar reviewed the combat records from Crossnodar Island and the weather forecast for that day, furthering his line of reasoning.

──There was no battle. Instead, a typhoon passed through the nearby waters.

──As the air fortress approached the typhoon, it shifted to radio communication control.

──What occurred in the relevant waters at that time?

Balthazar glanced out at the darkening window.

Stars twinkled like falling sparks. He could hear the sounds of autumn insects.

A hypothesis flashed in his mind.

──Two air fortresses hid within the typhoon.

For what purpose?

──To mask their radar and neutralize enemy detection, advancing deep into the North Daito Sea.

He had never heard of such a case. It was an unprecedented operation in the history of world warfare. However, having analysed the data, he could conclude nothing else.

Balthazar picked up a newspaper to check the projected path of the typhoon.

The typhoon was expected to hit Air Hunt Island in four days. Currently, two new type air battleships and four new type air carriers, as well as a newly organized assault fleet, were stationed at Air Hunt Island. If the two air fortresses launched a surprise attack, the newly formed assault fleet, a symbol of hope for St Vault, would be utterly annihilated.

──But could there really be a strategy to approach hidden within a typhoon?

His reasoning seemed far-fetched, and Balthazar felt confused. If he reported this to his superiors, it would likely be dismissed as childish fantasy.

──But a surprise attack is called so precisely because it catches the enemy off guard.

Caught between his reasoning and intuition, Balthazar wavered.

Should he report this matter to his superiors tomorrow or not?

If a mere rookie like him presented such a hypothesis and was laughed at, while nothing came of it, his abilities would be questioned. There was a risk of being seen as a fool bringing childish fantasies to the battlefield. Everyone in the workplace was a veteran with more experience than Balthazar. Raising concerns where others saw none would carry more disadvantages.

──I’m still new. It would be wiser to keep quiet.

Reason whispered that to him.

But, still.

──If it’s true, Air Hunt Island will be destroyed.

If two air fortresses launched a surprise attack, it was certain that the entire island would be engulfed in flames. The military port and airfield, as well as the Air Hunt Officer Academy, would not escape the inferno.

──Am I really going to silently overlook the signs of a surprise attack? For my own safety?

He envisioned the faces of those attending the Air Hunt Officer Academy under the night sky outside his window.

Mio, Illia, Cecil.

And delayed, Kiyoaki and Reiner.

Reiner disappeared quickly, but the others lingered in his thoughts.

──What happens to them is none of my concern. Pathetic.

Balthazar sneered inwardly, deep in his throat. He had grand ambitions. He wasn’t interested in the childish friendships of his peers. Right now, his priority was to earn trust in this workplace. To do that, he had to be prudent, reliably carry out what his superiors instructed, and make sure they liked him.

There was no value in taking strange risks.

And yet.

──Is it really okay to just overlook it?

That voice echoed within him.

──I alone can see through this operation.

──If this is true, it could be a fast track to promotion.

──It’s worth taking the risk. Isn’t it?

──Not for the sake of my peers. But for my own advancement.

Balthazar told himself that. He didn’t want to work for the sake of his comrades, but he could work for his own promotion. That was something he could accept.

──I’ll do it. For my ambitions.

He sharpened his focus and reviewed the mountain of data once more to check for any holes in his hypothesis. After much thought, he reached a conclusion, despite the noisy chirping of insects outside the window.

──Two Urano air fortresses are approaching Air Hunt Island, hidden within the typhoon.

He could say it with conviction. Whether he was a rookie or a low-ranking trainee, he could confidently declare this as his conclusion.

──Tomorrow, I’ll report to the section chief. Laugh if you want.

──In four days, my correctness will be proven.

Resolute, he immediately began preparing materials to persuade the section chief. He extracted past radio transmission records as the basis for his argument, analysed the differences in call signs between the air fortresses and the fleet, and examined changes in communication volume in relation to the ongoing situation around Crossnodar. He calculated the fluctuations in communication volume as the typhoon moved, providing the strongest mathematical evidence available to support his theory. By the time he finished his work, the sky had already brightened, and the office staff were arriving for work.

Listening to the birds chirping, Balthazar approached the desk of Andy Bott, the section chief of the Multi-Island Sea Information Division, and after exchanging morning greetings, submitted six reports.

"…………?"

Captain Andy glanced over his glasses, casting a thoughtful look.

"There are suspicious movements in the northern sea area of Crossnodar Island. I’ve summarized them in this report."

"Hmm."

The captain began to read through the reports. He had expected to laugh off a trainee’s report, but surprisingly, he responded with genuine attention.

As he flipped through the pages, seriousness began to shine in his intelligent eyes. He meticulously followed the presented numbers, occasionally falling silent in contemplation.

"…Did you do this all by yourself?"

After finishing the reports, Captain Andy asked in a calm voice.

"Yes."

"…Two air fortresses entered the typhoon and plan to launch a surprise attack on Air Hunt Island, huh? That’s quite a bold assertion."

"I agree. However, when cross-referencing the numbers with the surrounding situation, that possibility…”

Balthazar replied calmly. Captain Andy fell silent again, leaning back in his chair, observing Balthazar's expression through his glasses. Balthazar met his gaze without flinching.

After a moment of consideration, the captain broke the silence, causing the springs of his chair to creak.

"…I’ll forward this report to the director. Whether the content will be seriously considered is up to the operational parties. Based on my experience, it’s unlikely that headquarters will take action… but this is certainly worth raising."

A shiver ran down Balthazar’s spine. He had thought he wouldn’t be taken seriously, but it was unexpected for his report to be escalated.

Captain Andy quietly continued to weave his words while reviewing the contents of the report.

"From a statistical perspective, I cannot deny the arguments you presented. It’s astounding that a trainee with only six months of service could produce this. It seems that graduating at the top of the Air Hunt Academy was no fluke."

"I’m honoured."

"Indeed. You’ve worked through the night. I’ll grant you permission to use the rest area, so take a short break. I still need you to contribute a lot more."

The way Captain Andy looked at Balthazar had clearly changed. It was evident that his attitude had shifted from that of a mere trainee to treating him as a "valuable subordinate."

"…Yes, sir!"

Balthazar straightened up, feeling the praise. The rest area was usually off-limits to trainees, so receiving permission was unprecedented. This meant he had been recognized to that extent.

He understood that it would be difficult to move the operations headquarters itself. Information and operations were separate, and operational parties required decisions made after considering all angles of the situation. The "Commander’s Decision" was not something that could be made lightly from a report created by a trainee overnight. It required weighing information from intelligence agencies scattered across the Multi-Island Sea, current battle conditions, comparisons of the strengths of both the allied and enemy forces, and the status of logistical support—all crucial information had to be considered.

If information division personnel could influence the operations headquarters, it would only be when Balthazar had earned sufficient accomplishments and trust such that the Commander of Operations recognized, "If it’s Balthazar’s report, it must be correct." Only then would he have an impact on the entire St Vault military.

──This time, that report likely won’t bear fruit.

──But the section chief recognized my efforts.

──He acknowledged my existence and abilities. That’s enough for now.

Comforted by this fact, Balthazar lay down on the simple bed in the rest area. As he began to drift into sleep, the faces of his juniors living at Air Hunt Island flashed through his mind once more.

The roar of the atmosphere was beginning to transform into that of a ferocious beast.

From afar and near, a high-pitched sound, like metal being sliced, echoed as the wind's scythe twisted in reverse.

Since around sunset, the street trees had started to rustle. The current time was 9:30 PM. The violent storm front seemed to be approaching, and the wind was growing increasingly fierce.

Listening to the sounds of the typhoon beyond the curtains, in the Air Hunt Officer Academy's student dormitory, four students—Kiyoaki, Reiner, Cecil, and Illia—were lounging as usual in their specially assigned officer's room, "The Seven of Eriadore."

"Typhoons are so boring. We can't go outside. Cecil, make us something to eat."

Reiner, sprawled lazily on the sofa, ordered Cecil, who was sitting across from him.

"I don’t want to. I’m busy right now."

Without looking up from her fashion magazine, Cecil replied coldly.

"You’re not busy! What’s with that magazine? It’s stupid and pointless. Stop worrying about those mindless drivel and make us food."

"Shut up! Just make it yourself! You can make salt pasta, salt bread, or salt rice balls, right? You know how to cook those!"

"I can, but that’s just sprinkling salt. I want something proper, so if you can't do it, Illia, can you make something?"

Next to Cecil, Illia was cleaning her swordsmanship equipment with a cloth.

"No."

Without even considering it, she dismissed the request. Reiner sighed dramatically and turned to Kiyoaki, who was beside him.

"Kiyoaki~. You're my last hope."

Kiyoaki smiled with a troubled expression.

"What do you want to eat?"

"A katsudon from Mio."

"You’ll need to call Mio then."

"She probably won’t come anyway."

"If you call her, she might."

When Kiyoaki said this, Reiner made a strange face.

"What’s that supposed to mean? You should be the one to call her."

"…It’s not possible. You seem to be able to communicate better with Mio than I do right now."

Kiyoaki said this with a self-deprecating smile.

Reiner looked at Kiyoaki suspiciously, then sighed again.

"Fine. You wait here. I’ll go call Mio. I’m hungry."

Reluctantly getting up from the sofa, Reiner left the officer's room.

Left behind, Illia, Cecil, and Kiyoaki exchanged glances.

"He went to call her, but… Mio probably won’t come, right?"

"That’s unlikely… It’s been almost six months since she’s been here."

"…It’s unusual for Reiner to go out of his way to call Mio. Especially in this weather."

At Illia's words, both Kiyoaki and Cecil nodded. Reiner, who usually lounged on the sofa and talked nonsense, was taking initiative for once. It was a rare occurrence.

"Is it because of the typhoon that he’s acting differently?"

"He’s not a timid person… But I hope Mio comes…"

Kiyoaki murmured, looking toward the curtains. The roar of the wind was growing stronger.

Reiner exited the student dormitory, donning a raincoat, and headed for the library. He knew that Mio, who had nowhere to go in the girls’ dorm or the officer's room, often spent her time there alone.

Battling the rain and wind, he finally reached the library. Upon entering and shedding his raincoat, he found Mio sitting alone at a six-person table, studying.

At this hour and in this weather, Mio was the only student in the library. She appeared to be submerged beneath the sound of the rain. Reiner approached her confidently and sat across from her.

"…What is it? Another lecture?"

Without looking at Reiner, Mio was drawing red lines in her navigation manual.

Reiner exhaled through his nose and began to lecture her.

"Engage with others. Just normally."

"I can’t."

"Shut up. Just do it. It’s not just for you, but for your family too."

"It has nothing to do with you."

"It does. If you keep acting suspiciously and end up getting caught, I’ll get dragged down with you. If you were interrogated, you’d spill everything in an instant, right? It’s a hassle for me."

"I won’t talk."

"You will. Don’t underestimate torture. You wouldn’t last five minutes. For you, not being suspected is the most important thing. And yet, you’re always acting suspiciously without a care for how I feel…"

"……………………"

Mio maintained a stoic expression, ignoring Reiner's lecture. Naturally, Reiner felt irritated.

“Listen. I’m saying this for your sake. Be grateful.”

“……………………”

Mio’s attitude remained unchanged. Reiner added a serious tone to his voice.

“This is a special service. I’m going to teach you something incredibly important. You can ignore it, but you’ll regret it.”

“……………………”

“Tomorrow, when the typhoon clears, the situation will change.”

“…?”

Mio lifted her gaze from her manual, looking at Reiner with suspicion.

“I can’t say more. You wouldn’t want to know anyway. But think of today as your last normal student life. You will never return to your everyday life again.”

“…What do you mean? …What does that mean?”

“You don’t need to know. But it won’t hurt to listen. Spend tonight with the others. Got it?”

It was Reiner Beck's words, not Hachidori's.

“…What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m asking if you got it.”

It seemed questions were prohibited. Mio felt a bit pressured and looked at Reiner’s expression, waiting for it to soften, but there was no sign of that happening.

She felt defeated.

“…If you’re going to insist… I guess I can go.”

Her intuition told her to follow Reiner.

“Great. Just make something to eat and come back. That’s all.”

Maintaining his serious expression, Reiner nodded, and the two of them left the library together.

The roar of the wind and rain was intense. If they let their guard down, they might be thrown to the ground. The streetlight’s glow faintly illuminated Reiner’s back.

Mio threw another question at him.

“Hey, what’s going to happen tomorrow?”

Reiner turned slightly, raising his voice.

“Listen carefully. At the right moment, I’m going to make a proposal to everyone in the officer's room. You’ll need to support it. Promise me.”

Mio looked at Reiner, puzzled. He still had a serious expression.

“Trust me. Nothing bad will come of it. You need to agree with my opinion.”

Mio didn’t understand what he was saying, but she nodded in response. For some reason, it felt right to follow Reiner’s lead now.

As soon as Mio entered the officer's room, Kiyoaki, Illia, and Cecil jumped up from the sofa as if propelled by springs.

“Mio!” “Mio…!” “Mio!”

Their voices coincidentally echoed together. Mio timidly stepped into the room.

“…It’s been a while… since I came to the officer's room.”

From behind her, Reiner popped his head in.

“Heh heh. Success! I told her there was chocolate, and she followed.”

“N-No, that’s not—”

Mio tried to deny it, but when her gaze met Reiner’s, she slumped her shoulders.

“…I guess… that’s true.”

She reluctantly agreed. Kiyoaki, anxious, said,

“Y-Yeah, whatever, just come in. I’m so glad, Mio. It’s really lonely in this room without you.”

“Oh… is that so?”

She replied curtly while awkwardly glancing around the room. Cecil and Illia cleared the centre of the sofa.

“Mio, here, come here! We don’t have chocolate, but I can buy some from the shop!”

“N-No, you don’t have to buy anything. It’s a typhoon outside. U-Um… excuse me.”

Mio awkwardly sat down on the sofa, squeezed between the two.

“Why don’t you come to the swordsmanship club too? It’s a great stress reliever.”

Illia unusually initiated a conversation.

“Ah… Yeah. I’m just officially enrolled in the swordsmanship club, though.”

“If you’re going, I want to go too! The last time I went, Kagura and Illia bullied me.”

“I didn’t bully you. I just made sure your motives weren’t impure. If it’s you, Mio, I’ll teach you more gently.”

“Um… thank you, Illia… Maybe, possibly… I hope I can go someday.”

Mio trailed off, and Reiner flashed a grin.

“Whatever, just make us food. I want to eat katsudon for the first time in a while.”

“…We don’t have the ingredients.”

In the past, Mio used to receive ingredients from her family in the Akitsu Federation, but she hadn’t received any this year. There were still some rice and miso left, but it seemed impossible to make katsudon all of a sudden.

“Oh, right. Then anything’s fine. Just make something filling!”

“...But what do you mean by ‘something’?”

“Kiyoaki, what do you want to eat? You know Mio’s cooking best.”

“Ah, no, I’m fine… Just having Mio here is good enough for me.”

At those words, Mio looked down awkwardly. Everyone was being overly considerate, which only made the atmosphere feel strange.

Reiner chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. “What’s with the stiff attitude? Kiyoaki, you’re tossing and turning in bed at night, calling out ‘Mio, Mio.’ If you were that lonely, should I leave you two alone?”

Kiyoaki’s face turned crimson in an instant.

“W-What are you saying!? I don’t talk like that in my sleep!”

“You do! Every single night, from the bottom bunk, it’s ‘Mio, Mio,’ it’s super loud. If you’re that worried, why don’t you just sleep together?”

“W-What!? No way!”

Kiyoaki and Reiner shared a dorm room, sleeping in the same bunk bed, but Kiyoaki had never heard anything like that come from Reiner’s mouth before.

Across from them, Mio was blushing furiously, looking down and hiding her face with her hair.

“No, that’s a lie! Don’t believe him, Mio! I definitely don’t talk like that in my sleep!”

“You say it every night! ‘Mio~. Mio~. Why is this happening, Mio~?’”

Reiner pouted his lips and made an exaggeratedly foolish expression to mimic Kiyoaki’s sleep talking.

Unable to hold back, Kiyoaki grabbed Reiner by the neck with both hands and started to choke him.

“That’s a lie! Don’t insult me! If you don’t stop, I’ll really choke you!”

“Ugh, hey, I’m not…! Wait, this is bad, it’s too much…!!”

“Take that back! Don’t make up stories!”

Kiyoaki’s anger was quickly diffused by Illia and Cecil, who hurriedly pulled him away from Reiner. Reiner was panting heavily, but he still had a smirk on his face.

“Wow, you went for that right away… Not bad…”

“Of course it’s not bad! You started it with that weird talk!”

“It’s just a joke, everyone knows that! I was just trying to liven things up.”

“That’s too much! Mio’s already having a hard time!”

Mio still couldn’t lift her head. Being teased like this was something neither she nor Kiyoaki could handle. Their clumsy options were either to get furious or freeze up—one of the two.

At that moment, Kiyoaki suddenly felt a piercing gaze and turned to look across the table.

He caught Illia sitting up straight, staring directly at him. As soon as their eyes met, she hurriedly shifted her gaze to Cecil.

A strange sense of discomfort brushed against Kiyoaki’s temples, but he couldn’t grasp what it was.

“Sorry, it’s my fault. I didn’t say that in my sleep, okay? Just calm down. As an apology, I’ll make you some salt pasta.”

“I don’t want that, it’s disgusting! You just sprinkled salt on pasta!”

As Kiyoaki’s frustration peaked, Mio, still with her head down, timidly raised her hand.

“Uh… I could make something? Pasta is quick to prepare.”

“Eh…?”

“...If you don’t want it, that’s fine.”

Kiyoaki stared at Mio for a moment, dazed, then hurriedly nodded.

“Y-Yeah, if Mio is going to cook, I’ll eat anything. Right, Reiner?”

“I’m good, thanks.”

“Why would you refuse now!? You were just saying you wanted katsudon, you idiot! Mio is offering to cook, so just eat it in silence!”

“Okay, okay, I was just joking, don’t get mad. And who are you?”

“Aki, you change personality when Mio’s around…”

“Ah… Okay. I’ll make a late-night snack. Illia and Cecil, what about you?”

“I’ll have a little. It’s been a while since I had Mio’s cooking.”

“Oh, then I’ll have some too! Mio’s pasta is delicious!”

Mio nodded and got up from the sofa, moving to the kitchen, familiar after a long time. She opened the lower cabinets to check that all the cooking tools were there and peeked into the refrigerator.

“Uh… I can make meat sauce quickly, though.”

Kiyoaki rushed into the kitchen.

“That’s fine! I’ll help! I’ll boil the water!”

“Ah… No, that’s okay. I can do it by myself… Just sit down.”

“Oh, really!? Uh, okay, I got it. I’ll leave it to you…”

Kiyoaki returned to the sofa, looking strangely sombre, but still glancing anxiously at Mio in the kitchen.

"Why are you acting so awkward? Just be normal. If you're too concerned, Mio will feel awkward too."

Reiner whispered to Kiyoaki, but he couldn’t calm down. It seemed like Mio was finally returning to normal, and he worried about her retreating back into her shell if something went wrong again.

Cecil also moved closer to Kiyoaki, his worried expression evident.

"Aki, just act normal. Let’s welcome her back like we always do."

“Y-Yeah…”

Kiyoaki nodded awkwardly. Some calmness returned, and he realized that Reiner had been teasing them on purpose to lighten the mood.

—That’s right. I need to be normal. Just normal. Normal…

He repeated to himself, nodding along with Reiner’s silly talk while waiting for the late-night snack. In the kitchen behind him, Mio was quietly sautéing ground meat. A delicious aroma filled the officer's room, naturally making their stomachs growl.

“Thanks for waiting… It might not be great since it’s been a while.”

Mio, with a lack of confidence, brought a large plate of pasta to the dining table.

“I don’t know how much everyone will eat, so help yourselves.”

She efficiently set out plates and forks in front of everyone.

“Okay, okay! Wow, it looks delicious!”

“Thanks, Mio! Let’s eat!”

Kiyoaki and Reiner dug in, taking big helpings from the large plate and stuffing their mouths.

“Ugh—”

“It’s delicious!”

Their faces broke into huge smiles. The rich, meaty sauce clung to the steaming pasta, filling their noses with savory aromas. As they ate, they grew hungrier, and before long, they were fighting over the pasta on the plate.

“Hey, Reiner, you’re taking too much! That’s for us too…”

Cecil complained while serving herself and Illia, twirling the pasta onto his fork and chewing happily.

“Wow, this is amazing!”

“Yeah. Mio’s cooking really stands out.”

Illia nodded as she eagerly moved on to her second helping.

"There's none left!"

Cecil gazed regretfully at the large plate, now only containing remnants of sauce. Mio hesitantly spoke up, "Um... We still have some ingredients left."

"I'll eat!" "Me too!"

Reiner and Kiyoaki reacted reflexively, and Mio silently stood up from the sofa and headed to the kitchen. A little later, she returned with another large plate, which quickly disappeared into everyone's stomachs.

"Thank you for the meal, Mio! It was really delicious!" "Thank you!" "Mio, thanks for the meal. Leave the cleanup to me."

After everyone helped clean up, they relaxed in the dining room with Mio for the first time in a while. The sound of wind and rain from outside was gradually getting stronger.

Reiner casually said while looking out the window, "They say the typhoon will pass by tomorrow morning. Did you know? After a typhoon, the debris in the air gets stirred up, and the sky looks strange."

"Ah, I've heard something like that. I haven't seen it, though."

"I think the typhoon will be gone by sunrise. If that's the case, we should probably see an amazing dawn. How about we all go to the observatory to check it out?"

With a grin, he made the suggestion. Kiyoaki, holding a cup of tea, replied, "A dawn sounds nice. I hope it actually happens. And we can't be sure the typhoon will have passed as predicted."

"It's worth seeing. If Kiyoaki, Illia, and I take our bikes, we can take Cecil and Mio along on the back. Let’s enjoy the dawn together!"

"Hmm. Sounds fun. I'm okay with it, but... what about Mio?"

Kiyoaki and Reiner glanced at Mio. She looked back at the two boys with a somewhat uncertain expression.

For a moment, Reiner's gaze towards Mio held a serious tone.

Mio remembered Reiner's words from earlier when they were caught in the rain.

"Okay... but it’s not a big deal."

She nodded awkwardly. Kiyoaki leaned forward from the sofa, surprised.

"Really!? Mio is coming!?"

"Y-yeah... If it's not a bother."

"It wouldn’t be a bother at all! Awesome! Let’s go to the observatory to see the sunrise tomorrow morning, okay? Cecil and Illia, you're in too, right?!"

"If Mio is going, I want to go too!" "I'm fine with it. I can take my bike."

Kiyoaki literally bounced with excitement.

"Wow, I can't wait! So, where do we gather after the typhoon passes!?"

"It’s a bit early to decide, but how about we meet at the parking lot at five? It’ll take about thirty minutes to reach the observatory. It’s going to be romantic for sure! I’m getting excited!"

Reiner quickly made the arrangements and confirmed with everyone. Grateful to Reiner in his heart, Kiyoaki looked forward to tomorrow’s outing without a doubt.

"Mio, let’s make lunch together!"

Cecil's cheerful suggestion made Mio nod shyly. Outside, the howling wind was intensifying, overpowering the cozy atmosphere inside.

The next morning, at five a.m.

Kiyoaki, Reiner, Illia, Cecil, and Mio gathered at the parking lot.

"There’s still a little wind, but the typhoon has passed. We should be able to see the dawn."

As Illia said, it was a quiet darkness. The sunrise was around five thirty-five, so they had plenty of time to get there.

With excitement, Reiner said, "Let’s go! Cecil, ride behind me!"

"No way! I want to ride with Illia!"

"I see! Then Mio, ride with me..."

"Mio, ride behind me."

Kiyoaki interrupted Reiner's invitation, and Mio nodded hesitantly.

"Ah... okay... Please take care of me..."

Three bikes were parked in the parking lot, each belonging to Kiyoaki, Reiner, and Illia.

Illia had also gotten her license in August and quickly bought a second-hand 400cc full-cowl bike. It was a red model that perfectly suited Illia’s competitive personality.

"Illia, you look cool..."

Mio complimented Illia as she mounted her bike. Illia nodded awkwardly for some reason and said, "I really like it. It’s fun in its own way."

"Yeah... You look great. It’s really wonderful..."

"Okay, let’s not waste time and go! I hope we get to see the moment of sunrise!"

Cecil urged, and Mio took a seat behind Kiyoaki on his bike.

"Alright, let’s go!"

After confirming that Cecil had gotten on Illia's bike, Kiyoaki kicked the starter.

Once they hit the public road, the rain had stopped, but the sky remained dark. The air was thick with moisture, and the clouds were flowing swiftly overhead. As Reiner said, the weather after the typhoon was distinctly different.

Mio's small hand rested on Kiyoaki’s side. The sensation brought back memories of that island from a month ago.

— That surely wasn’t a dream.

Kiyoaki thought.

— But Mio denies it. He couldn’t understand why.

He wanted to ask her again about that night’s events, but it felt wrong to do so, creating an itch of confusion. With that frustration, they entered the mountain road.

There were no streetlights on the desolate road. Kiyoaki relied only on the headlights as he followed Reiner. The darkness and strong wind were familiar, and he had travelled this path enough times that he felt at ease. When they passed through bumps and small curves, Mio’s body occasionally pressed against his, a feeling that was indescribably pleasant.

— I want to ride with Mio like this many more times.

— If the original Mio returned, it would feel normal.

While he was lost in thought, they reached the observatory near the mountain’s peak. It was the same spot where he had gone touring with Illia in early spring, finally meeting her smiling face.

Suddenly, those feelings from that time resurfaced.

The strong urge that had driven him to seek out Illia.

That impulse intertwined with the emotions transmitted from Mio, who was sitting behind him.

— Mio and Illia.

The two he had never once compared in his mind were now clearly overlapping.

— If someone asked me to choose between them, who would I choose?

Such doubts suddenly rose, and Kiyoaki hesitated. It was a proposition he had never considered before.

— It’s not like they're objects. I can’t choose.

Kiyoaki watched Illia park the bike in the observatory’s parking lot.

As if sensing his gaze, Illia suddenly turned to look at Kiyoaki.

Their eyes met.

Illia’s expression stiffened for a moment before she quickly averted her face and helped Cecil dismount from the back.

For some reason, a more intense emotion seemed to come from Illia than usual.

Perhaps the source of that tension was the Mio in the back seat.

— That can’t be true...

Kiyoaki thought as he turned off the engine, lowered the centre stand, and looked back at Mio.

This time, Mio's gaze met Kiyoaki's. His heart skipped a beat. Mio also awkwardly looked away and got out of the back seat.

── Somehow, everything feels so clumsy...

Feeling a confusion he had never experienced before, Kiyoaki turned his eyes to the eastern sky.

"Oh, nice! The sunrise is about to happen!"

Reiner got off his bike with a grin.

"We made it! Yes, it's before dawn! I think we can expect something amazing!"

Cecil, excited, jumped off Illia's bike and ran to the edge of the observation deck. She leaned her arms against the wooden railing meant to prevent falls and bounced up and down.

Kiyoaki, Mio, and Reiner walked over to join Cecil, resting their hands on the railing.

A warm breeze carrying the scent of the sea flowed through. The entire island was hidden in the night. Thick clouds layered in the eastern sky were drifting, and through the gaps, a hint of crimson could be seen. The typhoon had moved southeast, so the sunrise should illuminate the area just cleared by the storm.

"Those clouds are amazing! I think we'll see a breathtaking view!"

Cecil eagerly focused her gaze on the eastern sky.

Light began to spread its arms across the bottom of the sky.

The cloud ring that had been boiling on the horizon began to shine with silver light. The lights outlining the clouds started to swell. The colours of the sky visible through the gaps between the clouds deepened into a rich crimson.

"The sunrise...!"

Cecil smiled and stretched both hands toward the eastern sky.

Into her arms, a brilliant red light that had sliced through the clouds poured in.

"Wow..."

Mio let out a small voice.

"Oh, this is great!"

Reiner exaggerated his delight.

Radiating outward into the sky, multiple red beams of light exploded. The overlapped clouds took on shadows, creating a complex tapestry of colours on their surfaces. The fine dust kicked up by the typhoon refracted the morning light, draping the flowing clouds in shades of purple, red, and deep blue.

"Wow, it's beautiful...!"

Illia couldn't help but exclaim in wonder.

The colours of the eastern sky reflected on the sea. The colours wove into the waves, creating a brocade of seven colours across the surface of the ocean.

"I've never seen a sky like this..."

Kiyoaki murmured. Though he was used to the scenery from flying every day during training, he had never encountered such a display hidden in the sky.

"Wow, this is amazing!"

Cecil jumped up, her smile radiant. The view from the observation deck was usually stunning, but this was a sight that would surely penetrate to the depths of their souls—a spectacle they would never forget.

"I'm so glad we came! For Reiner's suggestion, this is quite the achievement..."

"What’s that supposed to mean? My suggestions are always spot on!"

As the brightness of the light increased, the clouds were sliced apart by the wind, and the sunrise became visible above the horizon. Kiyoaki spotted a particularly dense and large cloud among the dispersing peaks.

"That cloud looks incredible..."

Cecil turned to look at the cloud Kiyoaki pointed out.

"Is that really a cloud...? Do clouds look like that?"

Indeed, it was an unusual cloud.

It was quite flat and spread out horizontally. Yet, the density of its colour was too high for it to be a layer of clouds, and while other clouds were moving rapidly, this one remained completely still. It seemed to stand out like a blemish in the sky.

From its colour, one could sense its mass. Rather than a water vapor mass, it seemed to be a substance floating in the air.

Just as such doubts erupted...

"Look, there’s one over there too..."

Cecil pointed to the northeastern sky. Kiyoaki turned his head left about ninety degrees from the cloud he had been watching and saw another suspicious layer of cloud exactly like the first.

"No, that’s not a cloud...!!"

Illia raised her voice firmly, her expression showing clear tension.

"That’s... bad."

Reiner murmured.

Kiyoaki strained his eyes. As the sun rose, the full form of the cloud became clear.

Just as Illia said, it wasn’t a cloud. There were what appeared to be artificial structures reflecting sunlight on the flat upper surfaces, rising up in clusters.

They were unmistakably man-made structures. There was only one thing in this world that could be floating in the air like that.

"…A floating island…!!"

"Urano airborne fortress!!"

As Illia shouted, countless specks of debris were released from the surface of the flying island.

Like columns of mosquitoes, hundreds of tiny shadows gathered.

In the distance, at an altitude of about three thousand meters, numerous formations assembled, altogether becoming eight groups as they approached Air Hunt Island.

Cecil's lips trembled.

"That, that, that can’t be...!!"

"Fighters... Type 3 Idra!!"

"There are also bombers...!"

Nearly three hundred flying machines launched from the two airborne fortresses approached Air Hunt Island at an incredible speed.

The allied fighter planes standing by for interception were nowhere to be seen. Despair turned into words.

"No one has noticed!!"

"The airborne fortress was hiding in the typhoon! Radar wouldn’t detect it!"

Illia looked down at the naval port. Below her, the newly organized fleet moored in Sanjiru Bay was visible in the dawn light.

"The new ship is still anchored; it's a target!!"

Finally, distant sirens began to echo through the island. But the response was clearly too slow. The enemy aircraft were already upon them.

In the distance, a sound like distant drums shook the air. Smoke was rising from the coastal anti-aircraft gun positions. A bouquet of anti-aircraft shells was launched toward the approaching Idra formations.

The magnificent sight of the morning light was about to instantly transform into that of a battlefield. Watching the black blossoms bloom in mid-air, Cecil urged in a panic,

"The fight is about to start, but if we stay here...!!"

Reiner unusually spoke seriously.

"No, it’s better to stay here. We won't be targeted here."

Upon hearing this, Illia agreed.

"…It was a stroke of luck that we came here at this time. If we had been at school, we might have been attacked from the air. At least for us, there’s no immediate danger to our lives. We should be grateful to Reiner, even if it was by coincidence."

She said this to reassure Cecil. For the time being, the enemy's attack targets were military facilities and fuel depots. After they destroyed those, they could aim for the water supply and residential areas, along with other public facilities. However, the enemy would not waste bombs on an empty mountain observation deck. As Illia said, thanks to Reiner's suggestion to enjoy the sunrise, the five of them could safely wait here and avoid the aerial assault.

"Hey, Mio, stay put here too..."

Just as he was about to say this and turned his gaze to Mio beside him, Kiyoaki was once again shocked.

Mio had turned pale and was crouched on the ground. It seemed her legs had given out and she couldn’t stand. Sitting on the ground, her eyes were wide open, her lips drained of colour, and they trembled.

"Mio...! Are you okay? It's not scary..."

Kiyoaki thought she was trembling in fear of the Urano assault. He hurriedly crouched down to get a closer look at her. Mio was shaking all over as if facing the Grim Reaper.

From her lips, a faint voice slipped out.

"Reiner, is this what you meant...?"

"…Huh?"

"…You said our everyday lives wouldn’t return... is this what you meant?"

"Mio...?"

Mio lifted her face. Her gaze passed right by Kiyoaki and locked onto Reiner's profile a bit further away. Her voice was so small that it didn’t even reach Reiner.

"…What have I done…?"

It was clearly strange. Kiyoaki couldn't understand why Reiner was involved here. Just when it seemed like Mio was finally returning to her original self, she was about to fall back into an unusual state again.

"Mio!"

When he called out strongly, her jade-coloured eyes trembled as they looked up at Kiyoaki.

"...I didn't mean to..."

"What are you saying!? Just hang in there! If you stay here, you’ll be fine, so don’t move from this spot...!"

Encouraging Mio, Kiyoaki bent down to look up at Illia.

Illia was staring intently at the approaching squadron. Under the canopy of fighter planes, the bomber formation had moved in, clearly heading towards the new fleet that was about to dock in Sanjiru Bay.

"The enemy's targets are the new battleship and the new aircraft carrier. At this rate, we will be overwhelmed by their air power...!"

Saying this, Illia turned her gaze to Kiyoaki.

Kiyoaki could painfully feel what Illia was hoping for. And he too was becoming aware of his instincts as an airship pilot stirring within him.

—Staying here and doing nothing is out of the question.

—I will fight. For everyone living on this island.

It had been nearly a year since he transferred to the Air Hunt Officer Academy. He couldn’t just sit back and watch his friends and the kind people of the island be caught in the flames of war. He had the knowledge and skills to fight.

"Let’s go to the airfield, Illia. If we equip Gray Fox with live ammunition, we can fight."

Illia hesitated for a moment at Kiyoaki's words, but then nodded.

"Alright. Let’s go. The other three should stay here. Until the air raid is over, you must not move."

Reiner exchanged glances with Cecil before shrugging.

"Hey, are you serious? What’s a student going to do by going out there? Just stay here."

Kiyoaki leaned forward, rejecting this.

"Illia and I have the skills to operate fighter planes. We have to fight for this island."

"Are you stupid? You can’t do anything! This isn't practice; it's the real deal. And the enemy is a large military force. It’s like going to your death."

"That doesn’t mean I’m going to just watch this island get destroyed. Reiner, you protect Mio and Cecil here. We’re going."

Hearing Illia's words, Reiner scratched the back of his head with an exasperated expression.

"I'm just trying to be nice here. Well, if you want to throw your life away that badly, I won’t stop you. But if you regret it later, it’ll be too late."

His words were cold, a stark contrast to his usual self. Cecil also agreed with Reiner.

"Illia, stop. I have a bad feeling about this. This is nothing like the battles before..."

"You won't die. We’ll make it back alive. So, Cecil, you stay here...!?"

Illia's words trailed off abruptly.

Suddenly—

A massive four-wheel drive vehicle pulled up to the observation deck and screeched to a halt.

The doors swung open, and four military police officers leaped out.

"There they are, seize them!!"

"Don't move! Raise your hands! Behave yourselves!!"

Shouting, they drew their guns and pointed them at Kiyoaki and the others.

Kiyoaki couldn't comprehend what was happening before his eyes.

There were too many sudden developments for his mind to handle. Just as two airships appeared from the storm, military police burst onto the mountain observation deck, pointing their guns at them without provocation.

"W-wait, what are you doing all of a sudden...?!"

"Don't move!!"

The officers were serious. Pressured by their intensity, Kiyoaki, Reiner, Illia, and Cecil raised their hands.

Only Mio remained slumped on the ground, staring vacantly at the military police officers.

"That blonde girl, be careful! Don’t let your guard down just because she’s a girl!!"

Like they were dealing with a criminal, the officers cautiously approached Mio, their guns still aimed at her.

"Hey! That girl hasn’t done anything!!"

Kiyoaki shouted, not understanding what was happening. Mio, still with a vacant expression, looked at the surrounding officers with indifference.

"You are Mio, daughter of Ethan Syira, correct?"

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

"I have some questions for you. You will come with us to the police station."

Without allowing any objections, the large officers seized Mio from both sides.

Mio showed no signs of resistance. She simply bowed her head, forced to stand up.

Kiyoaki’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"W-what are you doing!?"

The officer who seemed to be the leader fixed his gaze on Kiyoaki.

"Are you a friend of Mio Syira? What were you doing here?"

"What do you mean, we just came to enjoy the view...?"

"The island is about to become a battlefield. If you all stay here, you’ll be safe. Stay put until the fighting is over, got it?"

The officer gave a short command and directed them to put Mio into the back seat of the vehicle. Kiyoaki was furious.

"Why! Mio hasn’t done anything to get captured!!"

The officer, appearing anxious, confirmed that Mio had gotten into the vehicle before addressing Kiyoaki.

"Her father was captured in Crossnodal. He was leaking information to Urano. Currently, the entire family is being detained."

"W-what...? What is that...!?"

The officer explained the situation as if trying to convince Kiyoaki.

"The Syira family is a family of spies. There are suspicions regarding Mio Syira’s involvement as well. There’s a high possibility she has been leaking information to Urano."

Kiyoaki’s mouth hung open in shock.

He couldn't comprehend the current situation with any logic. Illia and Cecil, just like Kiyoaki, could only stand there with their hands raised, unable to grasp what was unfolding before them.

"N-no, this must be a mistake...!"

"That’s impossible!!"

After confirming that Mio was secured, the officer looked up at the sky and addressed Kiyoaki and the others.

"There’s a possibility that this girl could help Urano with their landing. To prepare for the worst, we are detaining her. I understand you’re worried about your friend, but please refrain from unnecessary actions and stay here until the air raid is over. Understood?"

It seemed that the officer knew that Kiyoaki and the others, including Mio, were among the "Seven of Eriadore." He likely believed that stirring trouble with famous individuals from Air Hunt Island would disrupt operations later on, as his words included warnings and attempts to calm them.

"Once the questioning is over, we will release Mio Syira immediately. To avoid any suspicions afterward, we just need her to stay with us during the air raid. This is for her own safety as well. Understand? If you meddle further, the situation will become even more complicated. I know this doesn’t sit well with you, but until the fighting is over, please don’t stir up any trouble regarding this matter."

As soon as the officer finished speaking, a heavy rumble ran through the island.

The sound of explosions echoed against the mountain face. Looking down, they saw the bombardment of the military port had begun.

"It’s starting! Hurry up and get moving, if you dawdle, you’ll be targeted by enemy planes!"

The officer got into the passenger seat of the vehicle and urged the driver to hurry. Kiyoaki could no longer comprehend anything. He merely stared, wide-eyed, as the burning military port, the fighter planes finally taking off above the airfield, and the vehicle carrying Mio sped away from the observation deck.

His thoughts were frozen.

He didn’t understand what was happening.

"What... is this...?"

He could barely manage to mutter.

From below, the shockwaves of the bombardment rushed through. He felt a faint wave of heat in the undulating atmosphere. In Sanjiru Bay, the anti-aircraft guns were spitting flames desperately, and threading through that narrow space, the Urano bomber "Actaeon" unleashed a five-hundred-kilogram bomb upon the new battleship. The island had already transformed into a battlefield.

"W-what is going on!? How did things come to this...!?"

Cecil, unable to keep up with the situation, was at a loss and started to cry.

Even Illia, usually so composed, looked flustered and questioned Kiyoaki.

"Why was Mio captured...? What does it mean to be from a family of spies!?"

Kiyoaki could only shake his head.

"I-I don’t know... But I know this must be a mistake...! Right, Reiner? You think so too!?"

Desperately, he cast a glance at Reiner beside him.

Reiner was staring ahead down the road where the military police had vanished, his expression more severe than ever before. While everyone else was surprised and flustered, Reiner remained silent, deep in thought. After calling to him several times, Kiyoaki finally brought him back to his usual carefree self.

“Uh… Sorry. I was surprised. Um… What’s going on? Alright… let’s do this. Cecil and I will go to the police station. Illia and Kiyoaki will head to the airfield. How does that sound?”

“Eh!? Uh, um…”

“It’s a mistake. There’s no way Mio would do anything bad. Cecil and I will handle this; you guys just go to the airfield. Okay?”

“But if that’s the case, we should go to the police station too…!!”

“No, you guys have something to do. You’re going to fight to protect this island, right? If you’re going that far, I won’t stop you. Go ahead and do it. Leave Mio to us.”

Despite initially trying to stop him, Reiner suddenly began recommending that they go into combat. After a few exchanges, it was ultimately Kiyoaki who was persuaded.

“…Got it. Yeah. Illia and I can fight in the air, so… Cecil, please take care of Mio.”

“Y-Yes! I’ll testify to Mio’s innocence!”

“We’re heading to the airfield, Illia. We have to do what we can.”

“Yeah, let’s go. Cecil, wait for us. We’ll definitely come back…”

“…You two, be safe. Don’t die on me. I really don’t want that.”

“We won’t die. We’ll definitely return.”

Illia smiled reassuringly and mounted her beloved vehicle.

Ahead, the Urano air squadron was now distinguishable by type even with the naked eye. While friendly aircraft were taking off to engage, they were clearly outnumbered. In no time, flames began to erupt from various locations across the island.

The dawn’s glow was scorched by the flames of the land. Air Hunt Island, which Kiyoaki considered a second home, was now on the verge of being burned to the ground by Urano.

“I won’t let it happen…!”

Kiyoaki murmured and kicked the starter. Memories of the invasion of Messus Island four years ago surged back to him. Back then, he was powerless, watching his beloved sister get killed right in front of him. He could only weep at the sight of his burning homeland and the brutal remains of his parents.

He couldn’t bear to feel that way again. He wouldn’t let his homeland be burned twice. Now, he had the strength to fight.

──Mio’s situation is a mistake. Reiner will prove that.

──Right now, I just don’t want to lose this island, this school, and the people I care about.

──I will fight against Urano.

Carrying that single thought, Kiyoaki and Illia cut through the wind toward the airfield.