Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!? - Volume 42 - Chapter 4

Inspection and Contact

Friday, October 21st

Overseeing DKI wasn’t Koutarou’s only job. He also had his duties as the Blue Knight, which included inspecting the construction of his namesake ship. Although he’d used it as a pretense for his return to Forthorthe, the ship inspection was indeed his responsibility. Two thousand years had passed, but he was still the preeminent figure of the Imperial Army. The commander-in-chief ignoring the construction of a ship in his honor would only cause major headaches for the operation, so Koutarou obligingly sat through all the briefings.

“I want to go too...” Theia grumbled with a sullen look, as she wouldn’t be party to the inspection of the new Blue Knight.

“You’ll get over it this once. You need to go inspect your own flagship,” Koutarou replied.

The new Blue Knight was being made for him, meaning Theia no longer had a personal ship of her own. To rectify this, Forthorthe was also building a royal-class battleship named Saguratin for the Golden Princess. Theia, accordingly, would be touring her new ship while Koutarou toured his.

“That’s true,” said Theia. “But Ruth and I designed Saguratin down to the finest detail. All I’m going to see is the ship being built to spec. That’s so boring.”

Theia already knew what Saguratin would look like inside and out given her role in the craft’s conception. She was far more interested in seeing the new Blue Knight.

“Don’t be like that,” Koutarou scolded her. “The workers at the shipyard would cry if they heard you say that.”

“I’m only saying that seeing the ship is going to be boring—not that they did a boring job.”

“Quit griping and get a move on. This is your job, isn’t it?”

“Oh fine...”

Despite her complaints, Theia understood that the job ahead of her was her responsibility as a royal. She was a princess above all—even if she spoke her mind freely.

“We are leaving now, Master,” Ruth called out.

“Take care, Ruth-san,” Koutarou replied.

“Don’t you have anything to say to me?” Theia asked.

“Please return safely, Your Highness.”

Appreciating Theia’s delicate feelings, Koutarou respectfully addressed her as princess. But that wasn’t enough for her.

“Add a little more for your beloved Theia-chan,” she pressed him.

“I’ll play with you later, so shut up and get going already,” he shot back.

“It’s a date!” Theia shouted before running off.

Ruth smiled gently at Koutarou before bowing to everyone and chasing after Theia. Following that, the other girls began talking amongst themselves.

“Heehee, I’m glad we get to check out Theia’s ship first,” said Sanae-nee.

“Attagirl, future me!” cheered Sanae-chan. “Don’t you just want to see Koutarou make his big debut dashing to the rescue?”

“I actually wanted to see Koutarou-san’s spaceship first...” mumbled Sanae-san.

“Ahaha, we all know Sanae-san has a thing for captains,” Yurika chimed in.

“Th-That’s not true!” she protested.

“It is, ho! Sanae-san likes the pretty boys, ho!”

“In her room at home, she has a Super Dimension Fortress Yamato Nadeshiko poster and a photo of Big Brother hung up, ho!”

“H-Hey, haniwas!” Sanae-san stammered.

“That’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” Kiriha offered. “I have a picture of Koutarou in my room too.”

“You do?!”

“Yes, although I don’t have any posters of pretty-looking boys to go with it.”

“Jeez, Kiriha-san!”

Yurika, the Sanaes, Kiriha, and the haniwas would all be going with Theia and Ruth to tour Saguratin. Even though it was just a ship inspection, they wanted to send a well-rounded team just to be safe.

Koutarou saw the girls off with a dubious look. “I swear, she can be so childish... Although I guess she does get what’s important,” he muttered, quickly recovering from his exasperation with Theia’s behavior.

“Consider it her way of relying on us,” Harumi said with something of a strained smile. “I doubt she acts like that in front of everyone else.”

Harumi understood how the princess felt. Theia’s only family was her mother, so there was something special about the close bond she felt with Koutarou and the other girls. Harumi was sympathetic and watched over her much like she would a younger sister.

“I can’t say I don’t understand her behavior myself...” admitted Clan.

“To be honest, I get a little more emotional than I should on occasion too,” added Maki.

“Heh, aren’t we all like that sometimes?” threw in Shizuka.

Harumi, Clan, Maki, and Shizuka would be accompanying Koutarou on his tour of the Blue Knight. Kenji, Kotori, and Nalfa were all tagging along too.

“What is it, Mackenzie?” Koutarou asked, turning to his best friend. “You look like you have something to say.”

“I now understand why you never get mad at Elfaria-san, Kou,” Kenji replied.

“Why bring that up all of a sudden?” Koutarou questioned.

“It’s not just because she’s Theiamillis-san’s mother. It’s actually—”

Kenji didn’t get to finish his sentence. Before he could, Koutarou brought his fist down on Kenji’s head to shut him up.

“You don’t need to say anything unnecessary,” he warned Kenji.

“So you’re not denying it?” Kenji smiled at Koutarou while rubbing his noggin.

“I’ve matured past that.”

“Hmm, I’d call that growth. Keep up the good work,” Kenji replied in satisfaction. He knew how self-isolated Koutarou had once been, so seeing his personal relationships flourishing now was a welcome development.

“Wow... Nii-san’s acting like his old self again,” Kotori observed admiringly.

“Hasn’t he always been this cool, even if it was hard to tell?” questioned Nalfa.

“Ah, yeah. Maybe...”

Koutarou wasn’t the only one whose relationships were going smoothly these days. Kenji was starting to mend his with his little sister, which was also a welcome change.

“Anyway, Kou, shouldn’t we get going soon too?” Kenji asked.

“Yeah, let’s head out. Don’t want to keep them waiting,” Koutarou replied.

There would be on-site staff and a guard detail waiting for Koutarou and company, so he wanted to be punctual. When he called out to gather everyone and set off, they all followed him toward the Hazy Moon.

Nefilforan’s unit assumed responsibility for escorting both Koutarou and Theia on their tours. Nefilforan was personally overseeing Theia’s group, while her second-in-command, Nana, was watching Koutarou’s.

“In other words...we have a close-combat expert backing up Theia, our resident wild shooter, while you got stuck with us to make up for my lack of brains, Nana-san,” Koutarou reflected on the arrangement.

“It’s hard to agree when you put it like that, so can’t you find some other way to say it?” Nana asked.

“But I’m not wrong, am I?”

“Why are you so mean from time to time, Satomi-san?!” she demanded.

And so the banter began almost as soon as Nana arrived. As Maki observed her back-and-forth with Koutarou, she noticed something.

Now that I get a good look at her, she’s wearing natural makeup that most anyone would overlook, but it’s really well done. She’s surprisingly ready for anything.

Nana’s makeup looked so natural that she seemed to be wearing none at all. But upon closer inspection, her eyebrows and eyelashes were neatly groomed and she was wearing foundation that perfectly matched her skin tone. Her lipstick was modest with only a little color too. The overall impression struck a magnificent balance that allowed her cherubic appearance to shine through without being garish. Since it all looked so natural, it didn’t interfere with her work either. She couldn’t have chosen a better look as a military woman.

“You just look so cute today that I thought I’d make you a little angry,” said Koutarou.

“Who in the world would use that method to try and balance things out?!” Nana exclaimed.

Listening to their conversation, Maki smiled. That’s it. Well done, Satomi-kun. That was exactly what Nana-san wanted to hear from you... She understood exactly why Nana was wearing makeup, for she was diligently working day and night toward the same goal.

“I’m just messing with you,” said Koutarou to the furious Nana.

“I know that, jeez!” she replied. “You’re the only one around here who treats me like a child!”

“...You mean I’m the only one you notice treating you like a child...”

“Did you say something, Satomi-san?”

“Nope. Not a thing.”

“Good grief...”

Though Nana wore an unhappy expression, she was struggling to stop herself from smiling. In other words, Maki was right on the money.

“Anyways, we’ll be using this setup for security today,” said Nana.

“Nana-san, could you please cheer up already?” Koutarou ribbed her.

“I don’t want to hear that from you!”

Maki watched the two of them carry on with a smile, even though she was slightly jealous. Someone else in the group, however, had a completely different reaction...

“Serves you right! Tell him off some more!” Clan shouted.

Koutarou often teased her too, so she sympathized with Nana. But even so, the brainiac princess knew they had work to do. She swiftly switched to using her bracelet to display the day’s schedule for everyone.

“Regarding our itinerary, we will be descending via the Cradle rather than using a transfer gate. They wanted to hold a reception party at the spaceport,” she informed the group.

“Do they really need to go that far for an inspection?” Koutarou asked. He wasn’t sure what about the tour warranted a reception and felt they were going overboard.

“Veltlion, every planet wants to boost the morale of its citizenry. Especially a manufacturing planet like Waragthorn,” Clan answered.

Unlike touristy planets, planets that specialized in industry tended to lag behind socially with far fewer opportunities for economic upturn. Because revitalization began with individual spenders, remote planets were often left floundering for ways to galvanize their own people. So for the leaders of Waragthorn, Koutarou’s visit was a golden opportunity.

“I guess you’re right,” Koutarou hesitantly agreed. “All right, I’ll cooperate as much as I can.”

Knowing the circumstances, Koutarou couldn’t refuse. The new Blue Knight was all about revitalizing the economy in the first place, so lending a hand with a simple welcome reception to that end would be in the spirit of the operation.

“After the reception, we take arranged transport to the shipyard,” Clan continued.

“During that trip, my team will escort you and lead the way,” Nana added.

“Then I’ll be in touch later,” Clan concluded. “Everyone, please move to the Cradle for now.”

“Got it,” Koutarou replied as he looked at a hologram.

It displayed Nefilforan’s battleship flying alongside the Hazy Moon, and they were gradually moving away from each other. They’d both be landing on Waragthorn but in separate cities, so they were now splitting up to go their respective ways toward their destinations.

The vehicle transporting Koutarou and the girls to the shipyard cruised along smoothly, floating in the air rather than rolling along the ground with tires. Nalfa and Kotori spent the ride reviewing the footage they’d just taken at the welcome reception.

“They really do give Kou-niisan the idol treatment...” Kotori sighed.

She’d felt the same when they’d first arrived in Forthorthe, but the crowd at the reception had truly been something to behold. Countless flags and electronic banners had fluttered in the air as if in welcome for a popular celebrity on their first international visit. Even now, crowds were still waving flags along the side of the road as the convoy carrying Koutarou and the girls passed by. The sight alone told Kotori how much Koutarou meant to the people of Forthorthe.

“Kou, you need to stop turning everything into a major event,” Kenji teased, grinning and nudging Koutarou with his elbow. He knew the situation troubled him.

“It’s not my fault!” Koutarou protested. He hadn’t gone out of his way to draw a crowd. He’d only meant to solve the problems in front of him, and this was the result.

“This is your fault. It’s only like this because you saved Forthorthe twice,” Clan argued. She was used to being the victim of teasing when Koutarou was involved, so she readily took the opportunity to get in on the fun Kenji had started at Koutarou’s expense. Still, her point was valid, for she’d witnessed Koutarou’s heroics firsthand.

“Yeah, well, the first time was only because you said I killed the Blue Knight!” Koutarou objected. His actions in the past had been influenced by a misunderstanding on Clan’s part, so he wasn’t willing to take all the credit.

“And what about the second time, hmm?” she shot back calmly, stopping him in his tracks.

“The second time, uh... I was just going with the flow. Cleaning up my own mess. I mean, I couldn’t betray Her Majesty Alaia’s allies...”

“Why don’t you just give it up already?” Clan pressed him.

If there had been any doubt about Koutarou as a hero, saving Forthorthe a second time put the final nail in the coffin. He’d acted entirely on his own with no script to follow. In other words, he had no one to blame but himself.

“Why not ask Nalfa-san how the locals see it?” Shizuka asked.

Suddenly made the center of attention, Nalfa blushed. “W-Well, Koutarou-sama—I mean the Blue Knight—suddenly rose from an ancient legend to put down a coup, so I think this response is perfectly natural.” Nalfa fiddled with her hair as she answered. Koutarou had always been a hero to her, which was a bit of a problem in her current predicament. “And when everything was over, you left without a word... We all thought it was just the sort of thing you would do.”

“You heard her, Satomi-kun,” Shizuka declared.

“Landlord-san, Forthorthe would have been a mess if I’d stayed. Even me being here now is an issue...”

Koutarou still believed in remaining as hands-off as possible with Forthorthe. After the coup d'état, Forthorthians had been ecstatic to see the slew of problems, both social and political, that he would solve next—which was why he’d left promptly. He felt he’d had no choice.

Shizuka continued, “But you going home is what sealed the deal.”

“Ugh...”

“Kou, you really should just give up. You’re treading quicksand, man,” threw in Kenji.

“You got me there...”

Koutarou ultimately relented. He couldn’t change what had already happened, nor could he think of a way to diminish the esteem he’d earned. It wasn’t like he could go out and commit some wrongdoing, for he couldn’t stand the idea of betraying the memory of Alaia and all his former comrades.

The next thing anyone knew, Maki called out as a massive structure came into view outside the vehicle window.

“Ah, I can see it!”

She’d spotted the shipyard. Since it was made to create spaceships over a kilometer in length, the facility was far larger than that. Maki could tell how huge even a single dock was from a distance.

“So that’s how big the new Blue Knight’s gonna be, huh?” Koutarou muttered.

Clan smirked. “Only a part of it.”

“What is that supposed to mean?!” Koutarou exclaimed.

“Only the torso is being built there. Once it’s done, the full assembly will take place in orbit,” Clan explained.

The new Blue Knight was the first knight-class ship in history. Public opinion dictated that the Blue Knight’s ship needed to be the strongest of all, so it was larger than even royal-class crafts. Its size, however, had left its designers with the question of how the ship would be built. The new Blue Knight was humanoid in shape like Theia’s old ship, making it difficult to centrally stack generators of sufficient size. Instead, smaller generators needed to be spread throughout the body. The designers took advantage of this and had made the decision to construct the major parts of the new Blue Knight separately. Each part had been designed to function independently, but they were now being outfitted as spaceships in their own right too. The plan was then to join them together in space.

“Man, I bet Sanae and Yurika are gonna love this...” Koutarou muttered. The very notion of combination and transformation would be enough to excite both girls. He could easily imagine their eyes aglitter when they learned what the new Blue Knight could do.

“Satomi-kun, let’s keep quiet about that part for now,” said Harumi with a knowing smile.

She knew how big the reveal would be, so she thought it best to keep it a surprise for the time being. Koutarou couldn’t help but agree.

Koutarou’s inspection was scheduled to last for several days. This was partly to allow him time to visit the various sections, but also partly because the construction of each one couldn’t be paused for long. Koutarou only intended to visit the shipyards after they’d shut down for the day.

“So, where are we now?” he asked.

“The dock making the head, or rather, inside the head itself,” Clan explained.

The group was currently in the middle of their first tour, inspecting the Blue Knight’s head. With artificial gravity already operational, they were walking down the ceiling of a corridor that would eventually be the floor once construction was complete.

“The head will serve as the bridge,” Clan continued. “We’ll get an overview of things there before visiting the right arm, left arm, right leg, left leg, and torso in that order.”

The head was the command center of the ship. It contained very little equipment unique to the Blue Knight, so it was the furthest along in construction. It was nearly finished now, as it would need to be completed ahead of the other parts for testing purposes. That was also why it was the first stop on Koutarou’s tour.

“We only really need to see one leg, don’t we? I mean, they’re symmetrical, right?” Koutarou asked. The arms would be different since the right would be equipped with a sword, but he couldn’t imagine there’d be much difference between the legs.

“You can tell the workers that yourself,” Clan replied.

“Actually, I think I’d like to see both legs...” Koutarou could only nod in agreement once Clan pointed out the real reason for both visits.

“Good,” Clan said with a smile.

She felt no need to say anything further now that Koutarou wasn’t resisting, so she took the lead and continued walking. Clan had been in charge of the Blue Knight’s overall layout, so she already knew her way around the ship.

“This is the bridge,” she said as they reached a large room in the center of the head.

“Size-wise, it’s not much bigger than the old one,” Koutarou remarked.

“Indeed. It’s intended to use the same personnel.”

“Ah, gotcha.” Koutarou nodded.

The same crew would man the new Blue Knight, so it only made sense that a core facility like the bridge would be similar in setup. It was slightly bigger, but an expanded ship AI would handle all additional functions and responsibilities.

“However,” Clan continued, “there is a sub-bridge below for additional crew in the case of a major battle. There’s one such sub-bridge in every major part of the body as well.”

“Because they can operate independently, right?” Koutarou asked.

The main bridge had a sub-bridge for support, but the other parts of the body had sub-bridges capable of full operation in the event they were detached. In that sense, the new Blue Knight functioned like its own military base, albeit on a smaller scale—an important feature given that it would likely be used as a station in orbit around Earth.

“So we don’t want the head getting done in, eh?” Kenji commented. He recognized the vital importance of the head to the ship, so he was sure it would be at the greatest risk in an enemy attack.

“That is true. The other parts of the ship have independently functioning sub-bridges, but none of them can replace the main bridge. After all, arms and legs won’t work without a brain. That’s why the head has the highest level of protection in Forthorthian history.”

Kenji’s conjecture was correct. As valuable as the head was, it had been fashioned with the most cutting-edge technology imaginable. But there was another reason for such serious safety precautions.

“Also, if Satomi-kun were to fall, morale would plummet and panic would spread, which might be even more dangerous than losing control of the ship,” Harumi surmised in a somber tone.

Since Koutarou would be presumed aboard his namesake ship, the new Blue Knight would undoubtedly be the focus of enemy attacks. The devastation of losing him in battle was unfathomable, so Forthorthe was putting everything the nation had into ensuring his safety.

“Veltlion’s presence in battle will be an explosive boon to the Imperial Army’s morale, yet that also makes him our greatest weakness. Which is precisely why he’ll be shielded with a stupid amount of protection. So please don’t worry, Harumi,” Clan assured her.

“All right. I have faith in you.”

Just like how Alaia had blessed Koutarou with Signaltin, Clan would bestow him with the greatest protection she could provide. Harumi was certain of that. Still, it wouldn’t stop their enemies from making attempts on Koutarou’s life, so she couldn’t help but fret over his safety.

“Don’t worry, Sakuraba-senpai,” he assured her himself.

“Satomi-kun...”

“We just have to stop the bad guys before it comes to that, right?”

“Well, I suppose so.”

Diplomatic efforts, political games, and the like—there were plenty of cards to play before war broke out. Each potentially had the power to forestall the future Harumi feared most. Koutarou didn’t care for battle either, so he would take every measure possible to prevent it. The only fighting he wanted to see was a good sparring match.

“Kou-niisan, I don’t think it’s that simple...” Kotori interjected. Harumi had been satisfied with Koutarou’s answer, but Kotori, who had yet to see real conflict for herself, remained uneasy. Even with Koutarou reassuring her, the very idea of war unsettled her.

“All right, Kin-chan, why don’t I show you what I’m talking about?” Koutarou said, turning around to face a seemingly empty section of the bridge. “Whoever’s hiding over there, I’m not sure how to handle you, so come on out.”

There was nothing there but a normal operator’s seat. No workers were present. The Imperial Army detail had even confirmed the bridge was clear before Koutarou and the girls had entered. And yet... a petite figure in dark clothes appeared. Nefilforan’s soldiers immediately trained their rifles on the mysterious figure.

Despite having weapons pointed at them, the figure remained calm. Their face was covered by a hood, but they said nothing and their movements indicated no distress. They emerged from the shadows and slowly raised their hands to their hood. If they’d done so any faster, they knew they were liable to be shot. Fortunately, nobody opened fire while the figure in black lowered their hood.

“Don’t move another muscle!” Nana shouted, drawing her gun. She wasn’t going to let the intruder pull anything.

“What are you doing here?!” Maki asked, likewise readying her staff.

Both Nana and Maki looked deadly serious. They both recognized the person in front of them and knew they’d be in mortal danger if they let their guard down... The mysterious figure, after all, was the sniper who served as Ralgwin’s right hand—Fasta.

“Calm down, Nana-san. And you too, Aika-san,” Koutarou ordered. Unlike the girls, he kept his composure. He knew Fasta wasn’t there to fight, so he casually approached her. “She doesn’t have any intent to kill, and her hostility is wavering. Besides, she’s not the type to come in for a close-quarters brawl.”

Even with his spiritual energy, Koutarou couldn’t sense any bloodlust coming from Fasta. She radiated a vague emotion that could be considered aggression and appeared to be on guard, but he couldn’t imagine she meant to throw down. Moreover, she was a sniper. If she had truly intended to attack, she would have done so while Koutarou and the girls were on their way to the shipyard or while they were entering or exiting the transport vehicle. Knowing that, Koutarou was sure Fasta had come with something else in mind. What baffled him instead was that she’d willfully chosen not to hide her presence with spiritual energy like she had previously when trying to snipe him. That was why he’d decided to call out to her.

“Now, let’s hear what you’re here for...”

The only thing Koutarou knew for sure was that Fasta had come for a reason—and after seeing the serious look in her eyes, he wanted to know what it was.

“Looks like I won this gamble...” she muttered.

When it became apparent Koutarou was willing to hear Fasta out, the air about her changed. Her wavering hostility mostly vanished, and while she didn’t exactly seem friendly, it was clear that she wanted to talk.

Ah, so that’s what it was!

Koutarou finally pieced together why Fasta had appeared before him and revealed herself. It was unlikely they’d meet under any other circumstance. Fasta hadn’t been certain how their encounter would go, hence the flickering hostility.

“Let me get straight to the point,” she began. “Blue Knight, I want you to save Ralgwin-sama.”

“What?!”

Koutarou was floored by Fasta’s request. He’d sensed she had come to negotiate, but never had he imagined that was what she’d ask.

Before anyone could get to the bottom of Fasta’s request, she needed to be cuffed. Koutarou personally thought it was unnecessary, but the law demanded it and, to be safe, he felt it would be best to take all due precaution by treating Fasta as if she were dangerous in order to placate the people watching.

“Sorry about this, Fasta-san. Just bear with it for a while,” he implored her.

“I understand the situation,” she replied.

Koutarou and Fasta now stood facing each other in the conference room aboard the Hazy Moon. Fasta was in Forthorthian-style handcuffs, which used an AI that could detect hostile intent and neutralize the wearer with electricity accordingly. With these, no further restraints were required.

“I expected to remain cuffed until we were done—even afterward,” Fasta acknowledged.

“You came here knowing that?” Koutarou questioned.

“I had to.”

“I can understand that...”

Fasta had come to talk knowing the risks. A strong will burned in her eyes. Whatever her reason, it was deeply compelling and personal.

“So, what is it you’re after?” asked Theia. “I’m curious to hear what you have to say as well.”

The princess was in the conference room too, although not in person. She was participating by hologram on a secure channel via a device that floated in the middle of the projected hologram’s head. The other girls in Theia’s group were attending the emergency meeting remotely in the same fashion. The lack of face-to-face contact made it difficult to read emotional nuance, and Theia remained especially leery of Fasta.

“Like I said before, I want you to help me save Ralgwin-sama,” Fasta repeated.

“That’s the part I don’t understand. Save him in what way? Why is that even necessary?” Theia asked.

Everyone else was wondering the same thing. Ralgwin was the current leader of Vandarion’s former faction. He was responsible for every move they made. So Koutarou and the girls trying to stop him was one thing, but save him? Fasta’s request remained a mystery to the group.

“More specifically, I want to save Ralgwin-sama from danger in the future. I want to pull him away from the old wizard and the Gray Knight before it’s too late, but he won’t agree to it. So I need your help.”

Fasta saw Grevanas and the Gray Knight as threats to Ralgwin. Ralgwin himself knew that they would betray him before long, but he was content to ally with them until that time to suit his own personal interests. But the more Fasta learned about Grevanas and the Gray Knight, the more she came to understand how dangerous they were. She wanted to spare Ralgwin from their designs, which was why she’d come to Koutarou.

“You want to save Ralgwin from danger in the future? Are you saying he’s not in danger right now? Does that mean that Grevanas and the Gray Knight have yet to make their move?” Kiriha asked with a discerning look.

“As of when I left the faction, yes, but I don’t know how the situation has developed since. I think he may already be in danger,” Fasta answered.

“Wait... You left the faction?” Maki interjected. She was a defector herself, so that particular piece of information piqued her interest.

“Yes. Some time ago, I advised Ralgwin-sama to cut ties with that foul wizard and the Gray Knight. He refused me and told me to leave instead... I think he wanted me to escape,” Fasta reported.

Fasta had bared her heart to Ralgwin, fully expecting and prepared for the consequences. She desperately wanted him to be rid of his dangerous allies, but instead, Ralgwin had chosen to dismiss her—a kindness on his part. He had even prepared a fake identity and another job for her, for he was well aware of the danger she’d sensed and wanted to keep her away from it.

“When Ralgwin-sama first told me to leave, I almost refused at first. Yet after thinking it through, I chose to go... I didn’t think I’d be able to save Ralgwin-sama if I stayed.”

Fasta had risked her life to warn Ralgwin in hopes of saving him that way. But at the end of the day, she knew there was only so much she could do from within the faction. Fasta wasn’t foolish enough to think that she could protect Ralgwin by herself. Moreover, if she’d tried to rescue him, it would have been seen as an act of rebellion. That was why she’d chosen to remove herself from the situation and try an alternate means of saving her lord.

“So,” Koutarou began, “you’re here to find outside allies?”

“You’re the only ones who understand how dangerous the wizard and Gray Knight are. You also have the power to stop them.”

Grevanas and the Gray Knight were real threats, but they were both elusive and mysterious threats. Not many knew who they were, much less how dangerous they were. Just getting most people to believe in magic was difficult enough. That left Fasta with a very limited pool of potential allies, and she’d wagered everything on making contact with Koutarou.

“I can make it worth your while,” Fasta continued. “With my information, you should be able to apprehend Ralgwin-sama, after all.”

Fasta had come to negotiate, meaning she had something to offer Koutarou in exchange for her request. She’d known better than to come empty-handed when trying to strike a deal, so she was prepared to offer up Ralgwin for a guarantee of his safety. Without him, the rebel faction would naturally fall apart, and Fasta was certain that prospect would be enough to get Koutarou and his crew on board.

“Still, it’s not easy to trust you out of the blue,” Nana commented with a stern look. Fasta’s story was convincing, but Nana wasn’t willing to buy it just yet.

When Kiriha-san asked if Ralgwin was in danger right now, Fasta said she couldn’t confirm that. So she seems to be telling the truth. If she were trying to force our hand, it would’ve been easier to say we needed to help Ralgwin immediately. But still... there’s a possibility that this is a very clever trap designed to prey on that very assumption. We cannot act without knowing for sure.

The experienced Nana very carefully considered the situation. How to proceed was not an easy decision for her with so much on the line. Her mission was to protect Forthorthe, the royal families, Folsaria’s future, and Koutarou.

“Calm down, Nana-san,” Koutarou urged her.

“I am calm,” she replied. “But we’re dealing with someone who’s made more than one attempt on your life.”

Even with Koutarou’s reassurance, Nana remained vigilant. She couldn’t ignore the possibility that Fasta might try to attack even now. She knew her priority in such a situation would be defending Koutarou and Clan, and she would stop at nothing to keep them safe.

“It’s only natural that you don’t believe me. I don’t blame you for that. But I can’t let negotiations end here,” said Fasta. She wasn’t the least bit bothered by Nana’s response, which she thought was perfectly rational. She knew she’d have to prove herself in some way. “Hmm... I don’t know if this will be enough for you, but in the battle where you accessed the transport ships, you should have received a security code.”

Thankfully, Fasta had previously lent Koutarou and the girls a hand back when Ralgwin was attempting to escape Earth. Both sides had been locked in battle in orbit, and Fasta—who was already suspicious of Grevanas at the time—had secretly planted the security code Koutarou and the girls needed to access the enemy network.

“That was your doing?!” exclaimed Clan.

“I have the very same code on me now. Would you like to confirm it for yourself?”

“No need,” said the princess. “I believe you. At least, I believe you’re the one who helped us.”

If Clan hadn’t been able to crack the enemy’s network in that fight, the outcome could have been fatal. It was clear whoever had planted the code wasn’t Ralgwin, Grevanas, or the Gray Knight. Only someone like Fasta would have thrown them such a bone. And she was carrying the code now as a bargaining chip of sorts. That was proof enough for Clan.

“So you really have turned on Ralgwin...” observed the cautious Nana. Even she was starting to believe Fasta. Not just anyone could set a trap so elaborate. If they were up against an opponent capable of such guile, Nana thought, then their defeat was a foregone conclusion regardless.

“I have not turned on him,” Fasta replied in a stern tone. She’d been calm thus far, but she was finally showing emotion. “A terrible fate awaits Ralgwin-sama if nothing is done. This is the only way for me to forestall it.”

“He’s done enough to deserve it,” Nana quickly reminded her.

“I don’t trust the Gray Knight or that foul wizard. They mean to use Ralgwin-sama for something terrible. More than just his life is at risk—his soul is in danger!”

At this rate, Ralgwin was doomed to a demise worse than death. Fasta was convinced of that. She knew the Gray Knight had used a strange power to revive Grevanas and that Grevanas was capable of manipulating dead dragons. When they inevitably turned on Ralgwin, Fasta feared that Ralgwin’s very being was in jeopardy. She desperately wanted to save him from the maddening nightmare of undeath.

“I hear you,” said Koutarou. “Aika-san, is there a chance that Grevanas is using Ralgwin?”

He felt that Fasta was telling the truth, but he didn’t think Grevanas or the Gray Knight were trying to turn Ralgwin into a monster. That felt too simple.

“The only thing I can think of off the top of my head is using him to resurrect Maxfern...” said Maki.

“Oh yeah. They were scouring tombs for anything having to do with Maxfern, and they were clearly experimenting with spiritual energy at that factory. It all adds up if they plan to revive Maxfern, and they might use Ralgwin as a fail-safe since he’s a descendant,” Koutarou speculated.

Grevanas wished for nothing more than the return of his lord and blood brother, Maxfern. He’d even been working on gathering Maxfern’s remains, and it clearly wasn’t out of nostalgia for his old friend. If resurrection was on the table, it would also explain the rebels’ interest in spiritual energy and spiritual energy technology. And the linchpin was Ralgwin himself. Since he shared DNA with Maxfern and possessed a similar aura, he would serve as an excellent catalyst for the resurrection. When Fasta heard Koutarou put that all together, her eyes shot wide open.

“They mean to resurrect that legendary tyrant?! Ralgwin-sama doesn’t know anything about that! No... perhaps he’s vaguely aware of their plans but intends to find a way to use the situation to his advantage before pulling out. Still, even then...”

“He’s not up against easy opponents,” remarked Clan.

In truth, Ralgwin was likely already onto Grevanas. There was plenty of circumstantial evidence. Still, Ralgwin wanted to use his allies for as long as possible. At present, the rebel commander felt cornered, to the point that his defeat at Koutarou’s hands would be all but sealed if he struck out on his own. Ralgwin was on the verge of having spiritual energy tech of his own, but magic was a different story. He was completely defenseless against it. But even if he waited to obtain magic for himself, would Grevanas and the Gray Knight allow him to cut ties at that point? Fasta feared they’d make their move before then.

“I think I have a better idea of the situation now. But Fasta-san, if we capture Ralgwin, he’s looking at a life sentence at the very least. And more likely... he’ll be executed. Are you prepared for that?” Koutarou asked.

Ralgwin had committed treason and all sorts of other atrocities. Under the Forthorthian legal system, his punishment would be severe. Realistically, it would be capital.

“Unfortunately, he has done enough to deserve it... But losing his life is still better than losing his soul,” Fasta replied. “And if it comes to that, I’ll rescue him from prison.”

“If you did that, you would also be—”

“I would gladly accept it in order to save Ralgwin-sama.”

Fasta was filled with grim resolve. She knew Ralgwin was staring down a tragic end, but as long as he could get away from Grevanas and the Gray Knight, there was a glimmer of hope for him. He wouldn’t be executed the day he was captured, for Forthorthe would want to interrogate him for intel about the rest of the rebel army. Fasta could use that time to rescue him, no matter how impossible it seemed. That was far more achievable in her eyes than wresting Ralgwin from Grevanas and the Gray Knight’s clutches. In her eyes, she was trading one enemy for another.

“So you want a temporary truce until Ralgwin is captured?” Koutarou asked her point-blank.

Their alliance would last until Ralgwin was captured. Afterward, they would part ways. Koutarou and the others couldn’t release Ralgwin, and Fasta couldn’t give up on rescuing him. That would be the natural end of their relationship.

“Yes,” said Fasta. “But it’s not such a bad deal for you.”

“Okay, we understand what you’re asking for. Give us a minute to think about it,” said Koutarou.

“The decision is yours,” said Fasta.

And with that, she fell silent. She’d said her piece and now could only pray that Koutarou would accept her offer.

“What should we do...?” Koutarou muttered, folding his arms.

The conundrum he faced was a difficult one. There were various pros and cons to Fasta’s deal. If Koutarou accepted, it could be their chance to capture Ralgwin at last—but Ralgwin had eluded them so well for so long that this naturally seemed like a trap. Especially now that they’d just exhausted all their leads trying to find him. The timing was almost too good to be true. Moreover, Fasta had very little to prove her intentions. It also wasn’t outside the realm of possibility that Ralgwin had tricked her into a scheme even she was unaware of. The complexity of the situation made Koutarou hesitate.

Surprisingly, it was his best friend who showed him the way forward. “I have no intention of interfering with your business, Kou... but I think you should take her up on it,” Kenji said after Koutarou fell silent.

“Why’s that, Mackenzie?”

“If you turn her down, she’ll probably go try something even crazier. And if she’s out there on her own and gets captured by the wizard or the knight, they’ll pump her for intel on us, right? If it comes to that, you can kiss capturing this Ralgwin guy for yourself goodbye. In other words, I think this’ll be your first and last chance to run damage control. Taking everything into consideration... can you really afford to pass that up?”

Kenji was concerned about the potential fallout of refusing Fasta. He knew she wouldn’t simply give up on trying to save Ralgwin. He could tell extricating the enemy general from his current position wasn’t going to be easy either. If it were, Fasta wouldn’t have come to Koutarou and the others to begin with. So when weighing the risks of accepting Fasta’s help against the risks of letting her run amok, Kenji thought the former was a better deal—even if only slightly.

“That’s a good point,” agreed Koutarou. When he stopped to consider Kenji’s opinion, he became convinced that the smartest move would be preventing escalation.

“Besides, Kou, you know you’re a sucker. If you send her away, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

In truth, helping Fasta as an anti-escalation measure was only a pretense. Kenji knew that turning Fasta down would only put her in danger, and he knew Koutarou would ultimately regret that. So, in his eyes, if both paths forward were risky, he wanted Koutarou to follow his heart.

“That’s kinda brutal, man,” Koutarou replied with a grimace. He knew Kenji was right, and he’d be happier taking the path of least regret.

“I wonder if that’s really okay...” Shizuka murmured with a clouded expression. Unlike the boys, she was thinking of Koutarou’s safety and not Fasta’s.

“Landlord-san, which decision should I make in order for you to still like me?” Koutarou asked.

Shizuka’s eyes shot wide open when she heard him, and after a grand sigh, she shrugged. “Then I guess it’s decided. But gosh, you only talk like that when it’s convenient for you...”

Koutarou was stubborn, but he’d reveal himself in moments like this. Shizuka thought it was terribly unfair—even if she was a little happy about it. All she could do was give in.

Fasta, who’d been awaiting the verdict, responded in a similar fashion. “Heh, men are so incorrigible.”

“Sounds like you’ve had it rough too,” Shizuka remarked.

If only Ralgwin had followed Fasta’s advice, the current situation could have been avoided. But the rebel general was determined to avenge his uncle. Fasta had faithfully followed him all this time because he was a man with a mission, but her journey thus far had been one of both great joy and great hardship.

Once Koutarou decided to cooperate with Fasta, they uncuffed her. Restraints were no longer necessary now that she was an ally. They only would have gotten in the way during the strategy meeting that quickly followed.

“At present, this is their most likely target,” Fasta shared, using her freed hands to project a hologram in the conference room. It showed classified intel she’d taken with her when escaping the faction.

“Is that... a map of the shipyard?” Koutarou asked.

“It is,” she replied. “Once it was decided where the new Blue Knight would be constructed, we began discussing possible attack strategies.”

Fasta was displaying detailed blueprints of the shipyard that Koutarou and the others had just inspected with an overlay indicating the facility’s regular operations. This map was how she’d been able to infiltrate the shipyard in the first place.

“They know that if they can sabotage the new flagship, it will hamstring public morale, which is at an all-time high after winning the war and the return of the Blue Knight,” Fasta explained.

“That is certainly true,” Theia commented. “The Blue Knight reconstruction project is a symbol of the great Forthorthian restoration. It would make the perfect target if the enemy’s goal is to disrupt the economic upturn.”

Theia saw the merit of Ralgwin’s plan. He wasn’t targeting the Blue Knight to stymie Forthorthe’s military might; he wanted to deal a deadly blow to morale and the economy. That would hamper the Imperial Army far more than the loss of any one ship, for the military was dependent on funding as much as anything. It was a smart plan in Theia’s eyes—and that made her all the more uncomfortable.

“Okay, the real questions now are when and how they’ll attack,” said Koutarou.

He agreed with Theia. He felt an attack was inevitable, but Fasta had shared multiple plans for such an attack. They had no way of knowing which one the enemy would use or when they would spring their assault. Would it be today? In a year’s time?

“I think the answers are obvious enough,” said Kiriha. She could tell what the enemy was up to just glancing at the plans. “There’s a perfect opportunity coming up.”

“When?” Koutarou asked, concerned.

“In five days.”

“What? That’s awfully soon.”

“Indeed. They’ll descend on the dock making the torso,” she said further with absolute confidence.

“How can you tell, Kiriha-san?” Harumi asked. She believed in Kiriha, but there was too much at stake not to ask for details.

“As you know, the new Blue Knight is being constructed in parts at multiple docks, and the torso will serve many of its critical functions as a space battleship,” Kiriha began.

“Whereas the arms and legs serve as weapons and armor, correct?” Harumi wasn’t well versed in weaponry, but she understood the general structure of the ship. She didn’t want to hold anyone back in an emergency, so she’d studied up.

“That’s right.”

Each part of the new Blue Knight was being built as a self-sufficient spaceship, but the equipment governing the fully assembled ship’s chief functions would primarily be housed in the torso. It would contain the main generators, the main armaments, the warp drive, and barrier generation devices.

“The torso is a vital part of the ship, and in five days, a certain someone is due to inspect it,” Kiriha spelled out.

“Ah, so they’re also after me,” remarked Koutarou.

“Unfortunately so.”

If Ralgwin truly meant to crush the Forthorthian people’s spirit, his real goal wouldn’t merely be to destroy the new Blue Knight. He’d also want to crush its namesake, Koutarou himself. He’d have the perfect chance to attack both in five days when Koutarou was scheduled to tour the ship’s torso, and given how shrewd Ralgwin had been so far, it was hard to imagine he’d overlook such a golden opportunity.

“That’s why I was in such a hurry to make contact,” said Fasta. “There’s no time to spare.”

“So you also think Ralgwin will attack in five days, Fasta-san?” asked Koutarou.

“I helped draft all these plans. The torso was always the highest-priority target. Everything else is just a secondary objective. Ralgwin-sama knows what he’s after.”

Fasta had known rushing to her enemy was reckless, but with an attack on the horizon, she’d had no choice. She also knew that Ralgwin’s attack plans had likely been updated since her departure, meaning the information she had was outdated. She’d needed to gamble everything on this sort of cooperation and strategizing before it was too late.

“And if Ralgwin-sama’s going to attack the torso in five days’ time, he’ll use this formation,” Fasta continued, using her computer to switch the hologram to a projection of the dock surrounded by Ralgwin’s forces.

“Why not use a long-range bombardment or missiles and call it a day?” Koutarou asked. He was puzzled by the encirclement.

“Killing you is one of their objectives,” replied Fasta. “They want their method to be certain.”

From Ralgwin’s point of view, destroying the torso would be unsatisfying if Koutarou were to get away. Ralgwin wanted Koutarou dead, and he’d planned accordingly. Surrounding the dock would ensure Koutarou had no escape.

“So he might’ve gone for a long-range assault if not for me, huh?” Koutarou muttered.

“Your demise is part of Ralgwin’s grand plan, after all,” said Fasta.

“...So why didn’t you think about assassinating me?”

“Even if I eliminated you, it would be impossible to kill the royal families and take over Forthorthe. And Ralgwin-sama will be ruined if Grevanas makes his move after you’re assassinated.”

It wasn’t like Fasta hadn’t considered killing Koutarou. It would be one less thing Ralgwin felt he had to do before cutting ties with Grevanas and the Gray Knight. However, Fasta knew the odds of successfully assassinating the Blue Knight were low. She’d already failed to snipe him, and he’d had no issue detecting her in the shipyard. If she were going to kill Koutarou, it would have to be in an out-and-out fight, but killing him too soon would leave her without anyone to face Grevanas and the Gray Knight. Ultimately, she’d chosen to spare Koutarou’s life for the sake of protecting Ralgwin.

“Sounds like you’re in a pretty sticky situation,” Koutarou remarked.

He understood that Fasta wanted to protect Ralgwin on her own—she simply couldn’t given what she was up against. That was why she’d resorted to beseeching Ralgwin’s sworn enemy for aid. But again, she was only trading a foe for a foe. If she couldn’t overcome Koutarou herself once their truce was over, Ralgwin would be in danger all the same. In spite of how detached Fasta appeared, Koutarou could easily imagine the complex emotions swirling within her. Under ordinary circumstances, she wouldn’t have tolerated so much as being in the same room with him.

After a brief pause, Fasta said, “Let’s get back on topic.”

No one knew exactly what she was thinking, and Koutarou didn’t try to read her mind. He felt it best to leave her be.

“Ralgwin-sama will probably be here,” Fasta continued as she enlarged a topographical map to highlight a valley a short distance away from the shipyard.

“Are you sure?” Koutarou asked to confirm. He wanted to know what potential gaps in knowledge they might be facing since Fasta’s information wasn’t up-to-date.

“Ralgwin-sama may be fierce, but he’s not the kind of leader who treats his subordinates as disposable. He’ll always make sure to secure an escape route. And because of its importance, he will protect it himself.”

Even under Koutarou’s scrutiny, Fasta was confident. The exact attack plans may have changed since Fasta left Ralgwin, but his morals hadn’t. He was bound to defend the escape route.

“Now that you mention it, he does always seem to be looking out for his troops,” Koutarou mused. He recalled how he’d seen Ralgwin protect his men in battle, going so far as to surrender to save them. “Is that why you want to save him, Fasta-san?”

Fasta responded with a firm nod, “That’s right. I will save my companions, whatever the cost.”

Fasta knew that Ralgwin could never take back the things he’d done. That he’d earned the death penalty that awaited him. But even so, she’d never turn her back on him. They were comrades in arms who’d been through thick and thin together.

“What a shame... If only he hadn’t chosen to fight,” Koutarou muttered.

He understood where Fasta was coming from. He’d had plenty of comrades in the past that he would have rushed to save without hesitation, and he had plenty more in the present day. That was precisely how Fasta felt about Ralgwin. The only hitch was that Ralgwin was an enemy.

Fasta quietly stared at Koutarou, who looked a little sad. Perhaps they were thinking the same thing.

Fasta wasn’t a prisoner, but she wasn’t exactly free either. Aside from Koutarou and company, no one else was likely to trust her, so she was being kept aboard the Hazy Moon.

“Sorry about the restricted living arrangements, Fasta-san,” said Shizuka.

“This is rather superlative treatment for an enemy defector,” Fasta replied. “Besides, it’s only for a few days.”

“That’s nice of you to say.”

Shizuka was making small talk with Fasta while showing her to her room. The group had chosen Shizuka for the job because she was used to making people feel welcome as a landlord and she wouldn’t be missed at the strategy meeting, but most importantly, she’d have no trouble if Fasta suddenly decided to put up a fight. Fasta was an ally for the time being, but she was in a precarious position, and no one was better than Shizuka at playing the role of caretaker. She was accordingly escorting Fasta to a guest room in the residential block of the ship. Along the way, she decided to broach a topic she’d been curious about.

“Um... can I ask you something?” she said hesitantly. She was dying to know and didn’t want to walk along in silence, but it was a personal question.

“It depends on what it is. I won’t tell you where any bases are,” Fasta replied, but not coldly. She was ready to answer anything that wouldn’t compromise critical intel.

“I’m not going to ask you about bases. I’m just wondering what Ralgwin really means to you. You’re risking your life to save him and all.”

That was what Shizuka wanted to know. She could understand wanting to save an ally. But for Fasta to put herself on the line so readily, Shizuka thought there was more to it.

“He’s my savior. He was originally my father’s subordinate, but when my father died in combat, he looked after me.”

Ralgwin was born to a knight family, and while he was a skilled commander now, that hadn’t always been the case. Immediately after joining the army, Ralgwin built up experience as a lowly soldier and honed his leadership skills. His superior officer at that time was Fasta’s father. They got along well and Ralgwin looked up to the man as a second father. So when he fell in battle, Ralgwin took it upon himself to care for the man’s family. That was how Fasta, in turn, had come to admire Ralgwin.

“That’s a relief,” Shizuka said with a smile.

“What do you mean?” Fasta asked uncertainly.

“I can understand that.”

Shizuka had been a little uneasy. She couldn’t imagine how someone who’d join a rebel army felt—but she could understand wanting to save someone she owed her life to. She happily would have done the same for Koutarou and the other girls, so she was glad to relate to Fasta on that level.

“I see...”

Although Fasta’s expression didn’t change, Shizuka thought she looked a little gentler. She knew it might just be her imagination, but she was hoping it was real.

“Here we are, Fasta-san.”

Before long, they reached the room Fasta had been assigned. The sealed door automatically slid open, letting out some of the air inside with a soft hiss. Shizuka stepped into the room and frowned.

“This is pretty barren...” she remarked.

It was a guest room, but it was a guest room aboard a warship. It was so plain that Shizuka’s inner landlord was thoroughly disappointed.

“This is just what military facilities are like,” Fasta explained.

“I know just the thing! Wait just a second, Fasta-san!” Shizuka declared before running out of the room.

She left the door open... Does that mean she trusts me? Or is she testing me? Fasta wondered.

She sat down on the bed to wait, and Shizuka swiftly returned... with a small bouquet in hand. She didn’t know what the flowers were called since they were alien to her. One was red and the other had large, pink petals.

“Here we go,” Shizuka said as she plopped the flowers in a vase. It added a bit of color to the room and made it feel less austere.

“Thank you,” said Fasta. As a woman, she appreciated the consideration.

“Don’t worry about it. If there’s anything else you need, just let me know.”

“Understood.”

“Well then, I’ll be on my way now.”

Shizuka lightly bowed her head before departing. It would have been weird to be too friendly with a stranger who would one day become an enemy again, so Kiriha had specifically instructed Shizuka not to get too close to Fasta. Shizuka understood why, but she still felt it was a shame.

The door let out another quiet hiss as it opened and closed again. Fasta stared at it for a while after Shizuka left.

So these are the people we’ve been up against...

Fasta knew what Shizuka was like during a battle. She was a supremely dangerous foe with superhuman strength and incredible fighting prowess. But this was the first time Fasta had faced her as a person—and the same went for Koutarou, Theia, and the others too. Outside of war, they weren’t legendary heroes or princesses. They were just normal people.

That realization started a small ripple in Fasta’s heart. It was yet unclear how big a wave it would create. Still, the look in Fasta’s eyes wasn’t the way she would behold just any enemy.