Toaru Hikuushi e no Seiyaku:V4Part4
Part 4
“Once you see idiots every day, you get used to them. After a while, you stop being surprised by how stupid they are. You become numb to it.”
Repeating Leo Rosenmuller’s tired words, Kiyoaki thought aloud.
“Numb to idiots…”
He then looked out at the raucous chaos on the beach, where the Voltec squad’s enlisted soldiers were carrying on with what had become their nightly debauchery.
Indeed, it was true. He was no longer shocked by the drunken men and women, tangled in an orgy of behaviour that would once have made him want to look away. Now, it barely moved him. “Ah, here comes the butt again. Oh, another strip show? And now headbutts, too, huh. Sure, why not?”
“I thought I was growing enough that this stuff wouldn’t faze me anymore.”
“No, that’s not growth. Your senses are just dulling. If you let yourself get used to their ways, it’ll be tough to go back to normal life. Be careful.”
“Thank you for the warning. Still… it seems like they’re having fun. That’s a good thing.”
“… Yeah, I guess. No one knows if they’ll make it back alive after tomorrow’s mission. Tonight might be the last time this group can gather and raise hell like this. I understand why they’d want to let loose.”
Leo sighed, but even as he looked out at the soldiers raising hell on the beach, his eyes showed deep affection for them.
The roster for tomorrow’s operation had been posted that afternoon.
Though they weren’t told the details, it was clear from the fact that 45 elite soldiers out of the 140-strong Voltec Air Squadron were listed that it was going to be a large-scale mission.
It was likely that tomorrow would be the long-awaited fleet battle over the Great Waterfall. They’d inevitably face Uranos’ flying fortresses, “Kalkinos” and “Balsinos,” and they’d need to be ready for heavy casualties.
This gathering on the beach was meant to serve as a sort of “pre-war party,” and so the entire Voltec squad had come together, drinking and carousing as usual, only more intense than before.
“Don’t drink too much, you guys! We’ve got a big job tomorrow!”
Leo called out to them, but the enlisted men only laughed and raised their bottles in response. The party before their eyes was clearly more important to them than tomorrow’s mission.
Kiyoaki smiled and gazed up at the summer night sky. He was growing used to the mood of the Voltec Squadron. The scent of the sea breeze, the warmth of the bonfires, the laughter, the shouts, and the stink of alcohol—these things had started to feel almost comfortable to him.
It felt like… a big family.
That thought filled Kiyoaki’s heart with warmth.
He’d gotten to know the faces and names of each of the enlisted soldiers, and as his relationships with them deepened, he’d learned about their personal situations. He was beginning to feel a deeper bond with them, not just as rough-and-ready airmen but as individuals.
For example, Sebastian, who was currently chasing a female soldier down by the water’s edge, was sending money back to his bedridden mother. Leon, who was drinking whiskey straight from the bottle and shouting curses at his comrades, had joined the war to buy back the ranch his family had lost to corrupt dealers. Jude was here to afford his sick brother’s hospital bills, Hamilton was trying to clear his family’s shoe business debts, MacGuire, a former drifter, wanted a place of his own, and Lulu and Lala were fighting to support the orphanage that had raised them. Almost everyone had been driven here by financial desperation, and they were here to make a living in the only way they could—through war.
The root cause of their poverty was war itself.
Governments spent too much on military power, leaving social services underfunded. The poor had no access to education, no jobs, not even a place to live, and many were left to die in the streets. While the officer candidates came from families well-off enough to afford their education, the enlisted men, despite their abilities, had been denied access to a proper education due to their financial circumstances, leaving them as “disposable pawns” within the military. Yet, there was nothing degrading about them. They had taken their circumstances and, through sheer will, had made the most of every day. In Kiyoaki’s eyes, their resilience shone bright.
They were incredible people.
He meant it. In contrast, Kiyoaki reflected on his own habit of brooding, and he resolved to live each day as brightly and cheerfully as they did.
It was already July.
He had been stationed here for three months now and had flown dozens of sorties, enough to grow used to real combat. Though he wasn’t yet leading a squadron, he was no longer holding anyone back during air battles.
So far, Kiyoaki had confirmed six kills in combat, while Illia had claimed eight. These were remarkable records for officer candidates, and the public relations office, eager to promote “The Six of Eriadore,” had begun circulating news of their accomplishments far and wide. As their kill counts grew, the enlisted men also started to recognize the abilities of Kiyoaki, Illia, Kagura, and Reiner. They no longer dismissed them as “school-bred rookies.”
Officially, Kiyoaki and the others were “officer candidates,” but in reality…
They felt more like… new comrades.
That’s the sensation that seemed closer to the truth. Over time, new companions had come into their lives, mingling with the ones they’d had before. But every time someone new came, the memory of those who were gone faded just a little more.
A sharp pain pierced through Kiyoaki’s chest.
It hurt so much it almost made him cry out.
Mio…
He clung to the name of the person who was no longer there. He was afraid that if he didn’t, she might disappear from his heart completely.
“Are you okay, Kiyoaki? Do you feel sick?”
Kagura, standing beside him, gave him a concerned look. Kiyoaki shook his head and forced a smile.
“No, I’m fine. I’m okay.”
“Alright. But you know, tomorrow’s going to be the real deal. If you’re feeling unwell, it’s better to rest.”
“I’m okay. This is an important night… But what about Illia? Is she not coming again today?”
When he asked, Kagura gave a troubled smile.
“Who knows… Every time I invite her to the victory parties, she runs off. Looks like she’s still not over it.”
“Yeah… It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Kiyoaki glanced toward the women’s barracks with a worried expression. Ever since that night in May, when she first drank, Illia had been avoiding the beach parties altogether. She was still clearly mortified by the scene she’d made while drunk.
Thinking back on it now…
After carrying the drunken Illia on his back and confirming that she’d fallen asleep, Kiyoaki had taken her back to her quarters. The next day, when they met up as usual for morning duty, Kiyoaki had greeted her with a casual “Good morning,” and Illia’s face had immediately turned bright red like a tomato. She had marched right up to him and snapped:
“You—You drunk! You’re far too drunk, you—! Drunk!”
Not understanding what she meant, Kiyoaki had simply stared, confused, as Illia’s face flushed an even deeper shade of red. With a face on the verge of tears, she had yelled at him even louder.
“You probably don’t even remember, do you! That’s right, of course you wouldn’t! You were so drunk, saying all kinds of weird things!”
Still clueless, Kiyoaki had stood there, mouth agape, until finally, Illia’s frustration boiled over, and she shouted at him with trembling determination.
“Your memories from last night are all just your own delusions! I didn’t do anything strange at all, you drunk!”
It was clear from her awkward speech and the rehearsed sound of her words that Illia had gone over these lines many times in her head before delivering them. At last, Kiyoaki understood what she was trying to do. Bowing his head in defeat, he offered her a kindly, patronizing smile, as though she were a child.
“Yeah… you’re right. You’re absolutely right. I was so drunk last night that I don’t remember anything.”
At that, Illia’s expression stiffened in defiance, and she leaned back, chest puffed out.
“Right! Of course! So remember, whatever happened last night… it was all your imagination, you drunk!”
And with that, she had decreed the matter settled.
At that moment, a mischievous urge had bubbled up within Kiyoaki. Unable to resist, he had said:
“Yeah, you’re right. I mean, I could have sworn you begged me to give you a piggyback ride, but I must’ve imagined that too, huh?”
“That was your imagination!”
Illia, nearly in tears by this point, had slapped Kiyoaki across the face and then bolted from the room. He hadn’t expected her to run, so he had hurried after her, apologizing profusely and assuring her that everything was just his drunken delusions until she finally calmed down. But ever since, Illia had refused to attend the parties on the beach.
And now, back in the present…
Kagura sighed as she voiced her concerns.
“Normally, missing a silly little party wouldn’t be a big deal, but tonight’s important. It’s to boost morale and strengthen bonds, and there’s no guarantee we’ll all be together like this again. Illia really should be here.”
“She just has to stay away from the alcohol… I guess that night in May really hit her hard. But no one here cares at all, even if she was a little wild.”
“Yeah, if anything, the enlisted guys are hoping she’ll get drunk again. Makes her more approachable, apparently. But Illia’s pride probably won’t let her drink after that…”
“Well, don’t worry! I brought Illia with me!”
A light-hearted voice chimed in suddenly from the side, and when Kiyoaki turned, he saw Reiner grinning like a fool, while Illia stood there with a stiff expression.
Kiyoaki’s face lit up with a big smile.
“Illia! I’m so glad you came!”
Illia glared at Kiyoaki, her expression full of resolve, and declared:
“I’m not drinking a single drop of alcohol! I can socialize with everyone just fine without it!”
Judging from her attitude, it seemed Reiner had talked her into coming. Grateful for Reiner’s silver tongue, Kiyoaki leaned forward to welcome Illia warmly.
“Yeah, yeah, that’s fine! You don’t need to drink! There’s soda, right? Soda’s good, isn’t it?”
“I’ll drink that!”
“Alright, got it! Here’s your soda, Illia!”
With quick hands, Reiner handed Illia a drink, and she downed it in one gulp.
“Mm, this is just fine!”
Illia declared triumphantly, puffing out her chest. The moment the enlisted men noticed that Illia had arrived, they raised their hands and rushed over, cheering and shouting in excitement. They had been eagerly waiting for her to join the party, and now that she was here, they were ecstatic.
Kiyoaki raised his voice to remind them:
“Hey, Illia’s not drinking any alcohol! She’s only having water or juice!”
“Got it!” “No booze for Princess Kreischmidt!” “Here you go, Your Highness, some grape juice!”
MacGuire handed her a cup, but before Illia could take it, Kiyoaki snatched the bottle, took a sip, and spat it out.
“This is wine! Come on, guys, no more of this kind of prank, okay?”
“Man, these guys really are the worst. Here, Illia, have some soda.”
Reiner sighed as he handed Illia another drink. She took it and downed it just as quickly as the last.
“Yeah, this is no problem at all!”
Her declaration drew cheers from the group.
“I want some of that, too!” “Reiner, pass me some!” “I’ll take some of that!”
Lulu and Lala joined in, grabbing cups from Reiner and laughing together as they drank.
“Carbonated water is delicious!”
“Carbonated water is the best!”
“Your Highness, bottoms up!”
Watching the lively interaction, Kiyoaki noticed that Illia’s cheeks had started to turn red. He couldn’t understand why. Surely, Reiner wouldn’t have tricked her by handing her beer instead of sparkling water, right?
“Illia, sorry, can I have a sip of your drink?”
Worried, Kiyoaki grabbed the drink from Illia’s hand, the one that was supposed to be sparkling water, took a sip, and immediately spat it out.
“This is beer! Reiner, why are you doing this too!?”
“Because it’s funny!”
“It’s not funny! Poor Illia! Illia, that’s beer! You shouldn’t drink it!”
He shouted, but it was too late. Illia, now supported by Lulu and Lala on both sides, had already started dancing to the radio’s music. Kiyoaki slumped his shoulders in defeat.
“Ah… it’s happening again…”
“Well, it’s fine, right? Everyone’s having fun. And Illia will come to terms with it sooner or later. She can’t even tell the difference between beer and carbonated water, so she must be a natural-born drinker. Just like her dad.”
“I’m the one who’s going to get slapped for this tomorrow when she accuses me of something… I’m in for it…”
Kiyoaki muttered as he watched Illia dance. Her cheeks were already flushed bright red, and she seemed to be having a great time. At this rate, she’d probably accept more drinks from the enlisted soldiers, and end up revealing another new side of herself.
“But maybe it’s okay…”
That thought crossed his mind. Illia was always so tense, so it was probably good for her to relax like this once in a while. There was no guarantee they’d still be here to party after tomorrow’s big battle. So, for now, it was best to enjoy this moment with all their hearts. That desire, to seize this fleeting moment, seemed to flow through the circle of dancers gathered around the fire.
Under the brilliant night sky, as laughter and cheer swelled around the fire, Kiyoaki watched Illia dance. As he did, a faint emotion began to rise from deep within his consciousness, spreading through his body to its very edges.
“Let’s dance too! I’m starting to feel the fun!”
“Yeah, I’ll join in too.”
Prompted by Reiner and Kagura, Kiyoaki joined the dancing circle. Most of the enlisted men were already completely drunk, their faces flushed red as they laughed loudly. They easily slung their arms around Kiyoaki and Reiner’s shoulders, reeking of alcohol, and pulled them into the chaotic dance with clumsy steps.
“W-wait a minute, you’re being too rough…!”
Kiyoaki laughed as he was pulled into the rowdy dance, which was less dancing and more like everyone bumping into each other. The tension and excitement for tomorrow’s battle was being reflected in the wild dance, which seemed like it would never end.
Suddenly, someone threw themselves against Kiyoaki from the side, grabbing him around the shoulders and shouting into his ear.
“Saaaakaaaagaaaamiiii! You okay?!”
“I-Illia… Are you alright?”
Illia, clearly drunk, grinned at him like a child and bumped her head against his temple.
“Drink this!”
Before he could respond, she grabbed the back of his head with one hand, shoved a bottle into his mouth, and tipped it straight up at a sharp angle.
“Bu-bu-bu-bubghh!”
Kiyoaki choked as cheap wine was forcibly poured down his throat. Illia giggled and roughly yanked the bottle out of his mouth, taking a huge swig herself before gulping down the rest with reckless abandon. As Reiner had said, it seemed like her father’s drinking habits had fully manifested in her. Kiyoaki could already tell that in an hour, she’d probably regress into a childlike state again and demand another piggyback ride.
It didn’t even take an hour for his fear to come true.
“Saaaakaaaagaaaamiiii…”
In a childlike voice, Illia whispered into Kiyoaki’s ear as he walked along the deserted beach, carrying her on his back.
“What is it?”
He responded as he trudged along, his feet sinking into the sand.
“Nothing… just wanted to call your name…”
Mumbling like she was half-asleep; she tightened her arms around Kiyoaki’s shoulders and pressed herself closer to him.
In the distance, the sounds of the enlisted men’s wild party and the music still echoed faintly. The light from the bonfires didn’t reach where Kiyoaki and Illia were, leaving them alone in the darkness under the stars.
“So this is who Illia really is…”
Kiyoaki thought to himself, realizing something deeply. Despite the strict military training she’d undergone since childhood, despite being raised to behave like a disciplined soldier, deep inside her, she was a bright, playful, and affectionate girl. It seemed that a little alcohol had brought that side of her out into the open.
“That one time her father carried her on his back must have made her really happy.”
That thought filled him with a bittersweet feeling. Kiyoaki adjusted Illia on his back and continued to walk slowly along the beach.
Her warmth, her softness, and her sweet scent reached him through his back.
An overwhelming sense of happiness welled up inside him, impossible to suppress.
“Illia…”
He called her name, though not out loud. His heart raced uncontrollably, filled with warmth and joy, and he found himself wanting to stay like this forever.
Kiyoaki looked up at the starry sky.
In the stars, he saw Mio’s smiling face.
The happiness he’d felt was quickly replaced by pain.
It was as if his heart was breaking, and guilt oozed out like invisible blood.
Mio…
She had always been by his side since they were children. After the destruction of Messus Island, after losing his family, Mio had been the closest person to him. They had attended the same officer academy together, and had chased the same dream of destroying Uranos. They had been so close that he hadn’t even realized how important she was. Ever since that farewell on Air Hunt Island, there had been a gaping hole in his chest, and he had felt nothing but emptiness.
And now, that hole was starting to fill, little by little.
“The warmth coming from my back is what fills the emptiness.
The closer Illia gets, the further Mio drifts away.
The person who is close to me now, and the person who has gone far away, somewhere unknown.
Even though I want to cling to Mio, I can’t talk to her, I can’t hold her hand. All I can do is draw her image repeatedly in my mind, hoping her memory doesn’t fade.
In the meantime, the warmth from my back gently seeps into my heart. The softness I can feel, the words we exchange, all add weight to the presence of the one here with me.
The feelings I once believed would never change are being altered by time and distance, without me even realizing it.
What a terrible person I must be…
I’m scared of my own heart.
I look out at the night sea.
If I crossed this ocean, over the great waterfall, to the uncharted waters where no one has ever ventured, would I find Mio there?
Mio, where are you now?
What are you doing?
I want to see you. I want to talk to you. I want to hold your hand…
Kiyoaki prayed again, to the stars, repeating the same wish he had made hundreds of times. He needed to cling to the past and keep pushing himself forward, or else he feared that Mio would disappear from his heart altogether.
If I chase Uranos, I’ll meet Mio.
One day, if I reach Pleiades, I’ll definitely see her again.
Just as always, Kiyoaki consoled himself with those thoughts as he walked on, carrying Illia on his back. The waves washed over his feet, and he could hear Illia’s soft breathing in his ear.
The next day—
“You… you drank way too much…”
The moment Illia saw Kiyoaki at the pilots’ waiting area, she spoke up. Her tone was sharp at first, but it quickly softened, and her words trailed off, as if she couldn’t bear the guilt gnawing at her conscience.
Kiyoaki gave a wry smile and replied, “Yeah, I’m sorry. I drank too much. I don’t remember anything.”
“I… I see. Yeah… That’s right…”
Illia’s face turned bright red as she mumbled, her words unclear. She clearly wanted to pretend that last night’s embarrassing display was just Kiyoaki’s imagination, but it seemed that after two incidents, she couldn’t fully commit to her usual arrogance.
“You were fine, Illia. Really, nothing weird happened.”
Trying to comfort her, Kiyoaki said, “You didn’t do anything strange.”
Illia, her face a mix of awkwardness, embarrassment, and stubbornness, replied, “Y-yeah… Nothing strange happened… It was all your imagination…”
“Right, I drank too much. Let’s forget about it and focus on today. It’s an important day.”
“…Yeah… I know.”
“Why don’t you take a seat? It looks like more people will be coming.”
“…Okay.”
Kiyoaki gestured toward an empty chair, and Illia obediently sat down.
“Are you feeling alright?”
“…Yeah. I’m fine.”
“That’s good. We’ll probably have to cross the great waterfall, so you should save your strength.”
“…Yeah. Sakagami.”
“Hmm?”
Illia, her face still bright red, leaned closer and whispered just loud enough for Kiyoaki to hear.
“…Sorry.”
“…?”
“…I’m sorry.”
Like a bird’s gentle chirp, Illia softly apologized, her face buried in her hands, red with embarrassment.
It seemed like she was apologizing for making him carry her. Kiyoaki couldn’t help but smile wryly.
“I didn’t mind. It was fun for me.”
“…I won’t ever ask for that again… I’m really… sorry…”
“It’s fine. No one cares. Besides, we need to focus. Today’s mission is life or death. There’s no time to think about anything else.”
“…Yeah… I’ll focus.”
Regaining a little of her composure, Illia lifted her head.
In the waiting area, dozens of Voltec Squadron pilots had already gathered. They were all chatting and joking around, waiting for the briefing on today’s operation. It seemed that since early this morning, senior officers above the rank of battalion commander had been gathering at the Chandler Fortress command post for a long strategy meeting. The expressions on the gathered pilots’ faces were all filled with excitement, knowing they were about to participate in a large-scale operation. The rumours circulating suggested that it would be the largest offensive since the Hydrabard War began. The main fleet of the St Vault Navy had converged at the Chandler Naval Port, ready and waiting for the order to set sail.
At that moment, the commander of Voltec Squadron, Colonel Abraham Monroe, entered the waiting area, accompanied by two aviation staff officers, Major Leo, and three battalion commanders. The chatter in the room instantly fell silent as the enlisted pilots, whose names were on the flight roster, turned their attention to Colonel Monroe.
One of the aviation staff officers began to speak.
“Everyone, you’ve endured well up to this point. Today, the St Vault Navy will muster its full strength to take down the Uranos flying fortress, Kalkinos.”
A thunderous cheer erupted in the waiting area. Some raised their fists and roared, others bumped their biceps together in celebration, while others, still seated, turned their burning gazes towards the commander. Each expressed their fighting spirit in their own way.
At long last, they had the chance to confront the flying fortress that had destroyed Air Hunt Island last summer. The fleet, newly formed three years ago with half a year’s worth of national budget, had never seen combat and had been sunk at Air Hunt Port. Today was the day they would finally avenge it.
The staff officer pinned the operation map to the blackboard and began the briefing with a pointer.
“According to intelligence collected by our reconnaissance department, the flying fortress Kalkinos and the enemy’s main fleet are currently gathered near Sierra Greed on Santos Island, preparing to advance into the northern island sea. We have no reason to wait for them to come to us. This time, we will strike first. The objective of this operation is to annihilate the enemy fleet and capture Kalkinos.”
The staff officer paused for a moment, surveying the room.
“As soon as our fleet crosses the great waterfall, the Akitsu Federation will begin their assault on the other flying fortress, Balsinos, near the coast of Odessa on Messus Island. Our allied forces will strike the Hydrabard Allied Fleet from both east and west. This will prevent the Hydrabard fleet from concentrating their forces, limiting their support for the Uranos flying fortresses. During this window, both our forces and our allies will land on and seize control of the two detested fortresses.”
The scale of the operation was far greater than expected. It was clear that this would be a decisive battle between the Hydrabard-Uranos Alliance and the St Vault-Akitsu Federation. Without a doubt, the victor in today’s battle would become the dominant force in the archipelago.
“The Voltec Air Squadron will now transfer to the aircraft carriers Raven and Hydelund and be incorporated into their carrier air wings. First and second squadrons will be stationed on Raven, while the third squadron will be on Hydelund.”
Another pause. The pilots in the waiting area all held their breath, eagerly anticipating whether today’s mission would be air cover or direct ground assault. The staff officer, after building suspense, raised his voice.
“Your mission is to secure air superiority over the enemy flying fortress. You know this already, but without air superiority, there can be no landing. The outcome of this battle depends on all of you!”
The enlisted pilots’ faces lit up with excitement. It wasn’t some dull escort mission—they had been entrusted with air superiority. And not just any air superiority—today’s target was the Uranos flying fortress. They would have to secure the skies over a fortress bristling with weapons and defend against the elite fighter squadrons of Uranos. This was the battlefield that would decide the course of the entire battle. As pilots, it was impossible not to feel their blood boil with anticipation. Everyone was eager, ready to take to the skies and face the enemy.
Finally, the commander of the Voltec Squadron, Colonel Monroe, stepped forward to speak.”
“Operation code name: Thundersteel. The future of the Empire rests on today’s battle. Whether the Empire’s thousand-year history returns to ashes or the next thousand years shine with glory, your efforts today will decide that. All forces, become the steel thunder, and deliver the hammer of justice upon Uranos. That is all. Launch!”
A thunderous roar of approval rose from the pilots as everyone jumped from their chairs. They rushed out of the waiting area, following their battalion commanders in formation, making their way to their prepared aircraft.
Kiyoaki ran alongside them, his blood boiling with pride. Even though he was just a cadet officer, he had been chosen for this mission, and he was determined to live up to those expectations.
The mechanics were already warming up the engines in the line-up. The Voltec Squadron’s aircraft were marked with white, red, and blue stripes on their tails. Kiyoaki’s personal aircraft, a Beoeagle, bore the number “45” on its fuselage. He exchanged a few words with the familiar mechanic, listened to the final instructions, and then jumped onto the wing.
“Go on! Snatch that flying island out of the sky!”
“Come back alive! I’m looking forward to hearing all about it!”
The mechanics shouted encouragements as Kiyoaki climbed into the cockpit. They too had a deep attachment to this machine, having worked on it day in and day out, covered in grease. Their wish for him to shoot down as many enemy planes as possible and return safely was almost tangible in the sound of the roaring engine.
After confirming that the controls were responsive, Kiyoaki stuck his head out of the cockpit.
“Leave it to me! I’ll come back—victorious!”
He shouted, signalling with his right hand for the chocks to be removed.
“Spin the inertia!”
The mechanic cranked the handle, and Kiyoaki connected the engine shaft to the inertia path mechanism.
“Ignition!”
The engine roared to life. After receiving the paperwork confirming that the aircraft had no mechanical issues, Kiyoaki signed and acknowledged it. The mechanic jumped down from the wing, and Kiyoaki began taxiing toward the take-off position.
Ahead of him, he could see the tail of the flight leader’s aircraft—his squadron commander for today’s mission. A voice came through the speaker.
“Stay calm. Never go off on your own. Stay with me at all times.”
Kiyoaki smiled and gripped the mic.
“Yes, I won’t stray from you, Kagura.”
“Good. Illia, too. Let’s do our best today.”
“Yes, I’ll keep in formation with the three of us.”
Kagura, their flight leader, was clearly nervous—it was her first time commanding a squadron. Kiyoaki and Illia were her wingmen for today’s mission.
Then another voice came through the speaker, this time it was their battalion commander, Leo.
“First Squadron, after assembling in the air, we’ll transfer to the carrier Raven. The battlefield is still ahead, so take it easy for now.”
Leo seemed concerned about the pilots getting too worked up. Immediately, responses from the enlisted pilots came through the speakers.
“Roger that!”
“Just talking nonsense here!”
“Captain, marry me when we get back!”
The last one was probably Lulu. Mixed in was a light-hearted reply from Reiner, who had been assigned to Macguire’s squadron. Praying for his friends’ safety, Kiyoaki followed Kagura. The fifteen planes of the First Squadron began taking off in sequence, their propellers roaring as they headed for the designated assembly point.
In this operation, three-plane formations made up a squadron, and three squadrons formed a battalion. Leo, the battalion commander, was circling at 2,000 meters, waiting for all the planes to take off.
Kagura took her position for take-off. The three of them would take off simultaneously. Her voice came through the speaker, a bit tense.
“Let’s go. Don’t get too worked up.”
“Right. Let’s relax and stay focused.”
Suppressing his rising excitement, Kiyoaki replied. Kagura increased speed, and with Kiyoaki and Illia flanking her on either side, all three took off successfully.
“Alright, it’s like a leisurely hike. We’ll all make it to that flying island and return together.”
With all forty-five aircraft of the Voltec Squadron airborne, Leo’s relaxed tone came through the speaker as he gracefully turned his wings toward their destination. The formation spread out, and they settled into cruising speed. The silhouette of Mauregan Island quickly disappeared behind them, leaving only the blue ocean and sky, with the formation of planes flying in unison.
Let’s all come back together.
Repeating Leo’s words in his mind, Kiyoaki flew alongside Kagura, protecting her left flank as they soared through the calm summer sky. Beyond the towering cumulonimbus clouds on the horizon lay the great waterfall. Today’s decisive battle would likely take place near it…
