◆ Above Satanakia ◆
“The Heartless bombardment has stopped… Did Lua actually do it?!”
“I’ll take care of the remaining Heartless. Yes.”
Nearly twenty airships from the Torkaria Federation had crashed, overwhelmed by countless Heartless. Eeks and Tiferia were both panting, their arms barely able to lift. Even Nemea, who was carrying the two of them, and Dogura, the strange dragon that resembled a serpent, were showing signs of fatigue. My Machine Maiden didn’t require energy to move, but it drained my mental strength instead. My head felt foggy, and I was gradually losing the ability to respond to the approaching Heartless, taking hits repeatedly. This concept felt no different from the Phoenix, and now I understood why Branburm had beaten and kicked me to train me. He wasn’t just toughening my body; he was training my mind as well. At first, it was terrifying. But during training, I gradually became numb to everything, even when I reunited with Lua. Now, just remembering it makes me want to cry, and I struggle to suppress my trembling. Branburm deserved to be defeated by Lua.
And just now, he was taken down. Satanakia was barely floating, the sounds of its operation completely silenced. The number of Heartless had decreased, and there was no sign of them increasing further. That meant the next danger was…
“Oh, Platiu-chan. I’m heading back to the airship. There are still a few Heartless left, you know.”
“You must have something in mind. I can tell that if that Satanakia has stopped moving, it means—”
“It’s going to fall, isn’t it?”
“This isn’t the time to be so relaxed!”
I could communicate with Meria from here using magic, but it was more reliable to convey it verbally. If too many voices started talking in my head, I would break down.
“Meria, give everyone the instructions that Platiu is about to say.”
“You want to stop Satanakia’s descent, right? I understand.”
“That mass? What are we going to do? No matter how much Lua comes back, it’s going to be impossible.”
Yes, the next thing to be cautious about was Satanakia’s fall. In fact, since the Heartless stopped appearing, Satanakia had been gradually losing altitude. So first, I needed to do what I could from here. I calculated the area underneath Satanakia that would be most affected by its weight. I would gather everyone there. I was worried if the Dragon Gods would listen to me, but mentioning Kurinka’s name would probably do the trick. If they didn’t listen, I could tell Lua to deal with them. If we couldn’t save them here, it would be no different from a calamity.
Next, I calculated the landing point for Satanakia. I wanted to push it out of the continent, and the closest place from here was the western sea. Considering the personnel and the time to get it out of the continent, we couldn’t afford to dawdle. The last problem was what would happen after it crash-landed. If that massive island fell into the sea, a tsunami would threaten the other continents. We would have to rely on Meria and Elmera’s magic to somehow manage that.
“…Alright, I understand. What about the dragons?”
“The dragons will also be moved to appropriate locations.”
“This little one seems smarter than Lua-chan, doesn’t she?”
“What are you saying… No, when it comes to battle, there’s no one as sharp as Lua-san.”
“That sounds like a compliment, but it really isn’t.”
I felt a surge of anger at the mockery of Lua, but I held it in. However, I truly was terrible at card games, probably weak enough to lose to someone much younger than me. That’s why I couldn’t retort.
“I’m going.”
I sulked as I left the airship and dove into the swarm of dragons led by the Dragon Gods. Most were clinging to Satanakia, but a few turned to face me with hostility. The dragon riders, known as Dragonfolk, were being led by a Dragonfolk named Anima.
“What’s this human doing here?! A kid, and she’s flying too! Should we kill her?!”
“Wait! That human girl is not our enemy.”
“Then what is she, Anima?! Let’s just kill her!”
“If you kill her, you’ll be killed, Kushion. That girl is a companion of Lua and Kurinka-sama.”
A fat Dragonfolk named Kushion was about to attack me. The moment Lua and Kurinka’s names were mentioned, he snorted in annoyance. He was really hot-headed about killing. If it weren’t for Lua and Kurinka, he might have been fighting against humans.
“The Dragon Gods are already holding the center of the continent. We will follow suit!”
The dragons scattered and clung to the underside of Satanakia, pushing it toward the sea. If the dragons from Dragon’s Valley gathered, they could probably push an island, but this was Satanakia. Due to its metallic nature, its actual weight was likely different. They were moving it little by little, but if it continued like this, it would be cutting it too close.
So, I needed Tiferia and Eeks to cast Enhancement Magic from the sage. I had considered using skills to chip away at the continent, but doing that against such mass would be nearly pointless. It would be better to push alongside the dragons instead.
“Calculating time… Estimated time until Satanakia reaches the ground is just over twenty minutes. At this rate…”
Thanks to Meria giving instructions, we were heading toward the designated points one after another. The size of Metallica Island made movement difficult, but Nemea and Dogura were fast, so it didn’t take too long. The problem was time. We had to push it out before it reached the ground. If we waited until it was just about to land, we wouldn’t make it in time. I had only calculated from the center of Satanakia, and the island’s edge was likely to get caught at Avangarde Port, which faced the sea. If Avangarde Port got crushed, it would be meaningless. Considering the time until Satanakia was completely out to sea, we probably had about half that time. That meant ten minutes. We had no choice but to ask the Torkaria Federation’s airships for help. I hurried to convey this to Meria. I had to explain to the sage and get in touch with the airships.
“…They said they would cooperate. That’s good, Platiu-chan.”
“Yeah…”
They probably hadn’t anticipated such a thing with the airships. Yet, they were willing to help. Unlike Noibranz, I could trust those people. Watching the large fleet rush to attach themselves to Satanakia, I felt relieved. I didn’t know if we would make it in time. But I absolutely wanted to be of use here. Not for everyone else, but for myself.
“I thought desperately about what only I could do…”
I had lost when I challenged the Sky Cannon alone, and what Lua and Kurinka had told me echoed in my mind. What could Platiu do besides fighting? Platiu was smarter than Lua. That meant Lua couldn’t do this. If Lua came back, things would progress, but more than that, I wanted to proudly show this scene. That Platiu did this. And I would finally be able to fight alongside Lua and Kurinka. If those two were fighting back to back, then I could stand alongside them too.
“Push it out, push it out… Ah, it’s still not enough…”
“I see it! Is that the infamous Demon Island?! All units, prepare for battle!”
A military force riding dragons approached from afar. They weren’t Lua’s group; that was Noibranz’s dragon cavalry.
“This is the Noibranz 6th Division! We have no request, but we would like your cooperation!”
“Uh, um…”
“Captain Rudrett, that girl resembles the Red Devil that attacked our country before. Could she be an enemy…?”
“N-No…”
“Rather than a devil, isn’t she more like an angel now?!”
Rudrett, who interpreted my appearance according to the Seraphim’s form, saluted with a sharp arm raised to his head. Why was Noibranz here? As I stood there speechless, Rudrett urged his wyvern to come closer.
“First, I want you to understand that this is not a retaliatory operation against the Sky Cannon. Currently, our country is in a state of devastation, and our military is less than half of what it used to be, but… thanks to Lord Aboro, we are somehow holding on.”
Aboro, the strongest demon who had lost to Lua, was protecting Noibranz. Whatever the reason, if we could get these people to cooperate…
“…Therefore, this is not the will of His Majesty. To put it bluntly, it constitutes a clear violation of orders. Normally, we could be court-martialed as a unit. No, that doesn’t matter! I have no intention of asking for your gratitude!”
“Uh-huh.”
“Lady Lua came to our country’s aid! Yet… despite the orders, we were forced to become adversaries at one point! In a way, this is my own atonement! While I have involved my unit, everyone here shares the same resolve!”
“Our unit… or rather, our country no longer harbors the ambitions we once had. The king, who survived the Sky Cannon incident, has rapidly weakened and has long since lost his ambitions… We must be reborn from this moment.”
I just want them to hurry up, no matter what. I want to say that, but the words won’t come out. I can say it in front of Lua and Kurinka, but Genia told me that this is what they call being shy. As I fidget, Rudrett leads the group toward the lower part of Satanakia without waiting for my words.
“I know without being told!”
That’s good to hear. I really struggle with people like him, so I’m genuinely relieved I don’t have to talk. Still, it’s always Lua, Lua. It was because of Lua that those people rushed to our aid. I’m so different from the little girl who shrank back and couldn’t say anything to my mom and dad. Lua is incredibly strong, yet a bit foolish. I might have realized that from the very first time we met—she possesses so many things I lack. That’s why I couldn’t help but hug her.
“…I wish I could be like you, Lua.”
There must be others who admire Lua, even if it’s not me. But I can never be like her. Surviving for ten years in the Abyss Cave for revenge is impossible for me. It’s that unattainable distance that makes me admire her. Ordinary people might say they want to catch up to someone they admire, but it’s precisely because they’re ordinary that it’s impossible. Meeting Lua has made that abundantly clear to me. This Seraphim is the best that Metallica can produce, but it can’t reach Lua. Everyone else has worked incredibly hard to train, yet they can’t compete with her. It’s no wonder they harbor resentment. But I’m different. I love Lua. I love Kurinka too.
“Lua… hurry.”
The Dragon Knights have joined in, making significant progress against Satanakia, but it’s still a fifty-fifty situation. Torkaria, the Dragon Knights, the Dragons, and Tiferia and Eeks. Nemea and Dogura. Everyone is doing their best. I won’t say this to anyone, but I suspect Genia is involved in the transformation of Satanakia. Branburm said otherwise, but that’s just him trying to save face. He doesn’t possess the knowledge or skills to get this far; only Genia could. In a way, Genia embodies the very technology of the Kingdom of Metallica. I don’t know where she is now, but I truly can’t understand what she’s thinking. Sometimes she’s incredibly kind, while at other times, like now, she does things that leave me puzzled. Since meeting Lua and the others, I’ve gradually begun to understand different perspectives, which only makes me think Genia is strange.
“Alright… good, good.”
From a distance, I can see the large island being pushed. The fact that I can see it from afar means a considerable force is being applied. My method of thinking wasn’t wrong. Thank goodness, with this, Lua—
“Seriously, these incomplete brains are really something else.”
“…! Branburm! You’re alive…”
“Did that brat over there incite these fools? Damn it, after all the care I took to train them, they repay me with betrayal!”
Branburm has returned. No, he probably backed himself up. By moving his data to another location within Satanakia in advance, he can effectively create a duplicate. I understand that much, but it means starting over. No, that’s not right either. The current Branburm is weakened. The lack of Heartless projectiles and the absence of movement from Satanakia’s armaments are proof of that.
“Since you seem to have figured it out, I’ll confess: I have no means to fight right now. My intellect was destroyed by that brat Lua. How infuriating… But even in this state, there is something I can do. And that is now.”
“Ah, ahh!”
Just when we were making good progress, everything came to a complete halt. It’s all because of the revived Branburm. He may lack offensive capabilities, but he still has just enough strength to keep Satanakia moving.
“The incomplete brains have ultimately failed to understand my ideals. In the end, both you and the Avangarde below will perish, and that’s just fine.”
“I won’t let that happen.”
“No, everyone will die. The remnants of Satanakia will be buried beneath the Avangarde, leaving my image of trying to change the world etched in the eyes of future generations. Genia has had it rough too; despite warning you about Madias’s terror, this is the result.”
“Then… why did you say you’d fight alongside everyone? You can’t do that, so you complain… just like Lua said. You only want to dominate!”
I shout at Satanakia with all my might. I push against it, using my own power to cling to Satanakia. The Seraphim may not have much power, and I feel like I can hardly contribute at all. Yet, I couldn’t help myself. After all the effort we’ve put in, losing to Branburm would be infuriating. It’s not just me; everyone else’s hard work would go to waste too.
“I won’t lose, I don’t want to lose…”
“In my opinion, humans are too ignorant for their own good. When they see something they shouldn’t have, they dismiss it as a figment of their imagination or fatigue. Just like that, you incomplete beings lack the knowledge to understand Madias. This is a failure; I should have improved from the very foundation.”
“Then even now…”
“It’s too late. Why? Because I’ve completely snapped. In other words, I’m furious. At you incomplete fools.”
“Lua…!”
In the end, I find myself relying on Lua once more. I pray for her return. I still can’t do anything on my own. Tears overflow from my eyes, too frustrated to stop, even as I try to hide my crying.
“That’s right, just keep crying like a kid. Just like when I knocked you down and you begged for help! Lua, Luaaa!”
“Lua…”
“Satanakia! Gather your last strength! Full-speed descent!”
Even with the Dragon God present, everyone is starting to get pushed back. It’s hopeless without Lua. In the end, I couldn’t do anything. Fighting back to back is impossible.
“Fuhahaha! It’s over!”
“Not for you.”
“Ugh!”
Satanakia’s descent suddenly halts. In fact, my arms, which were supporting it, feel significantly lighter. It almost feels like Satanakia has become so light that I could float.
“I’m sorry for being late.”
“Lua…”
The one I wished for is not only holding Satanakia down with one hand but is also pushing it back. Below, Kurinka is bracing herself, but she doesn’t seem to be struggling.
“Lady Lua!”
“Rudrett?! You came for us…”
“I just want to say one thing! I’m sorry! We’re also receiving assistance from the people of the Torkaria Federation!”
“Got it, so we just need to push this, right?”
Now, with both hands, the strongest child begins to exert her power. Instead of smoothly pushing Satanakia away from the ground below, she has enough force to throw it into the sea.
“Lua… I’m sorry, I couldn’t do anything…”
“If it weren’t for Platiu-chan, we wouldn’t have made it in time even if we came. Meria-san told me it was all thanks to Platiu-chan.”
“Thank you, Platiu. I’m really grateful you’re here.”
“Luaaa…!”
Now, tears of a different kind overflow. I try to wipe my tears with the arms that were desperately holding down Satanakia. Even with the Seraphim’s head covering me, I can’t stop.
“You incomplete brains! You, youuu!”
“I’m not surprised you’re alive, Branburm. I have no intention of forgiving you anyway.”
“Damn it! You bastard!”
Branburm’s cries of defeat seem to echo the fear he has of Lua. If it weren’t for Lua, that would be the thought of almost everyone who fought against her. Branburm just realized it a bit late. Even as Satanakia is nearly pushed into the sea, Branburm continues to scream.
“Why?! Was I not complete?! If I am not complete, then are you complete?!”
At this point, it was almost entirely Lua and Kurinka who had Branburm cornered. But Lua doesn’t see it that way. This is a victory for everyone. The cheers of the Torkaria Federation army and the Dragon Knights celebrating their victory resonate in response.
◆ Shin Report ◆
The invasion was halted. However, where should Shin go now?
What is the purpose of Shin’s existence?
In the end, no one cares about Shin.