“Kenya-kun, wait here. If the enemy KOG appears, engage in combat.”
“Understood.”
Basically, Isshin and the others will handle the occupation of the transport ship.
In close-quarters combat, the highly skilled Isshin and his team won’t lose to mere transport ship guards.
However, if a KOG appears, the battle situation will change drastically.
That’s why Kenya is here, that’s why there’s a KOG.
…
“It’s started, huh…”
I feel my heartbeat close by, understanding that I’m now on the battlefield.
I never thought I’d be involved in a life-or-death situation.
“Gunfire… people are dying?”
I don’t feel it.
But I can hear gunfire.
That means people are dying.
It could be someone I shook hands with today, or maybe even Isshin-san.
I vaguely understand that fact, and my chest feels uneasy.
“Kaguya didn’t need to come…”
Kaguya isn’t on board, but she’s participating in the operation.
She’s handling the ship’s controls and other miscellaneous tasks.
She should be in the cockpit right now.
I wish it would just end like this.
I even thought that, but it seems it won’t be that easy.
“Don’t underestimate us! You losers! Once this thing comes out, it’s over!”
A KOG landed on the transport ship.
Then, there’s only one thing Kenya needs to do.
“Operation, start!”
I connect to Isshin via radio and report the start of the operation.
(Am I going to kill someone now… really?)
It’s not that my resolve wavered.
Protect Kaguya, defeat the enemy.
My resolve hasn’t wavered.
Even now, I don’t think joining the resistance was a mistake.
But do I even have a reason to kill people here?
Do I have a reason to kill Asgardians?
But if I don’t, Isshin-san and the others will die, Kaguya’s loved ones will die.
But still…
I repeat these unanswered questions to myself.
Kenya, who was living in modern Japan, is now on the battlefield within a few days, killing people.
I can’t grasp the reality of this act.
Even so, if I don’t do it now, the people Kaguya wants to protect will die.
So I’ll fight, that’s enough for now, I thought, and forced myself to accept it.
(It’s a relief that I can’t see their faces.)
The only saving grace was that I could fight from inside the KOG.
Even without resolve, it’s no different from what I’ve been doing so far.
And then, Kenya flew into the sky and landed on a billboard.
“What? You guys have a KOG!?”
Facing Kenya is a formal pilot who correctly graduated from the pilot academy.
A regular soldier who is a cut above the students.
However.
“What is this!? This guy’s movements! Could he be Ace-class!?”
The Asgard Empire’s KOG, which closed the distance in an instant, received a blow.
“Don’t underestimate me!!”
The enemy draws his standard-issue sword and slashes.
However, Kenya easily blocks and deflects it with his own sword.
“No way… this guy… could he be!”
My heart is still wavering, but my body is moving on its own.
Before I even think, my body automatically counterattacks.
“Is he Holy Knight-class!?”
And with a counter-slash.
The cut surface is scorched, and the KOG explodes.
If there was someone inside, no, there definitely was someone inside.
“…Did I kill him?”
Kenya looks at the exploded wreckage.
He feels a sense of unease that he doesn’t feel anything looking at the wreckage where not even a shadow of a person can be seen.
But the fact alone firmly pierced Kenya’s heart.
“Operation complete! Returning!”
With the escort KOG defeated, the transport ship easily surrendered.
“Good job, Kenya-kun.”
“…Yes.”
(He’s not energetic, is this his first time killing… no, that’s normal… right?)
Isshin understood that Kenya’s voice was low over the radio.
He knows that care is needed, but there’s no time right now.
“Activate all the KOGs that are loaded! Head to the destination!”
And then, ten KOGs fly into the sky.
Kenya follows them, flying to the destination.
They’re flying to the base, but not directly, they’re detouring through the mountains to take some time to return.
“Well then, let’s head back too.”
“Yeah! Good work. Father.”
Under Kaguya’s control, the rest of Isshin’s unit also returns to the base.
And the operation was completed.
◇At the same time, Aasgard Empire 13th Military Academy, Headmaster’s Office
“Even so, why is Lord here at this country’s academy?”
“If you’re going to say that, then so are you. A Holy Knight Captain-class KOG pilot who was also called the War God.”
Two people are playing chess across a desk.
In the Aasgard Empire, there are ranks for pilots.
It starts with trainees—that is, students—and those called Knights are general KOG pilots.
Above them are the unit leaders called Knight Captains.
This is the basic structure.
However, those pilots with the power to change the tide of battle, called Ace-class, were given a different title.
That is Holy Knight.
They are called the holy knights who protect the empire, with respect and awe.
They are talents who appear once a year, if at all, in the 13 training schools around the world.
And above that is the Holy Knight Captain, but there are only a few of them in history.
Zeke Sylphid, who was called the empire’s first spear, was one of those Holy Knight Captains.
A talented Holy Knight who survived the front lines and grew as a result.
That was the existence called the empire’s strongest rank, the Holy Knight Captain.
“Even so, you’re strong, I can’t match you at all. Even though I enjoy this as a hobby.”
“But in the end, it’s just on the board. It’s far from a real battle.”
“But you like it, don’t you?”
“Yes, it’s good for mental exercise.”
“Haha, to be the best in the empire with that, it’s terrifying.”
The two are playing chess, and it’s not that Zeke is holding back because Lord is royalty.
It’s just that the Second Prince, Lord Asgard, is overwhelmingly strong.
A royal who is called a genius of war and a devil’s brain.
“But I’m envious of you guys who can ride KOGs. I’m completely hopeless at that.”
“A capable commander is sometimes more valuable than ten thousand soldiers.”
“That’s right, but just giving orders from a safe zone, I have to at least get my hands dirty. Well, if I went to the front lines, I’d die in an instant.”
“You’re joking…”
“So, what’s your reason for being here?”
“Well… regrets… I suppose. It’s terribly pathetic.”
Seeing that Zeke doesn’t want to talk any further, Lord understands and decides not to ask.
“My purpose is, I’m looking for it. A strong pilot, a raw gem.”
“A strong… pilot? Is that why you’re moving around the world?”
“Yes, for my purpose. I’m going around the world, thinking maybe. But I found it.”
“Oh, is that so… can I ask?”
“Fufu, I can’t tell you that.”
Zeke is lightly brushed off.
He should be a boy who is less than half his age, but it’s like.
“It’s like I’m talking to His Majesty the Emperor. Even though he’s the same age as my daughter.”
“Zeke, do you know how to make people grow?”
“?…It’s not about age, is it?”
“Yes, the best way to make people grow is.”
And then, Lord moves a chess piece.
“To throw them into hell… Checkmate.”
Then, a soldier enters the room.
“Excuse me! General Zeke… there’s an urgent announcement…”
The soldier glances at Lord.
“It’s fine, speak.”
“Ten KOGs from the transport ship scheduled to arrive today have been seized. It’s probably the Japanese, excuse me. Or rather, 3rd-class Aasgard Empire citizens.”
“What? The KOGs on guard should have been on board?”
“There was one KOG on the enemy side. The escort was defeated. From the footage, it seems to be at least a Holy Knight-class user.”
The War God frowns at the report.
The act of terrorism itself is not that unusual.
However, it was the first time that someone used a KOG and even surpassed the skills of a regular pilot trained by the empire.
The footage was only for a moment, but it was clear that he was a pilot with first-class skills.
“It’s been a while since the empire suffered such damage from terrorism. I guess I should fulfill my duty as a royal.”
Then, Zeke stands up.
“Lord himself?”
“Yes, it’s my job to pacify the special district, and there’s something I’m curious about.”
“Understood.”
Zeke watches Lord stand up and leave the room.
“To think he’s the same age as my daughter… If His Majesty the Emperor passes away, Lord would be the one to ensure the empire’s stability.”
Lord’s father.
The 99th Aasgard Empire Emperor, Asgard Orgord, is bedridden with illness.
It’s been a year since he fell ill last year, and due to that, the war of aggression against the world has been temporarily suspended.
In the Aasgard Empire, it has developed into a succession dispute.
The emperor has already been diagnosed as not having much time left.
The emperor has three children.
The First Prince, Odin Asgard.
The First Princess, Ymir Asgard.
And the youngest, Lord Asgard.
Among the three, the royal who is most feared by the world.
His strategies, called the devil’s brain, which are close to Future Sight, have led to victory in every battle he has appeared in.
The existence that took over half the world for the Aasgard Empire by taking land from the EU, which was dividing the world into three, along with the Asian Union.
“A genius of war… he’s terrifying.”
It was the Second Prince, Lord Asgard.