The meeting with Count Jacques Pedro was successful. Although it seems like his lady of the house, Yekaterina, might have misunderstood something suspicious about me, I was still able to resolve it well.
Count Pedro promised full support for the ‘venture’ I am planning and said he would contact the administrators of each city to increase the intensity of the troops’ training.
For Biyaltock to survive the war that will happen in five years, we need more troops, more skilled soldiers, and stronger fortresses.
True to his military background, he didn’t just brush off my words about a great war happening within five years.
“First of all, the northern region must hold out at all costs. We can’t possibly build an axis like in the northeastern area.”
Now that I’ve made the honorary lord of Biyaltock my ally, I can afford a bit of leeway.
Time passed by.
It’s already been two months since the 8th Assault Magic Infantry Battalion completed its first live combat drop.
During this time, the battalion has moved away from its provisional organization and is now officially designated.
Despite the quite harsh training by Okhraine military standards, all 160 initial battalion members were recognized as official battalion members without a single dropout.
With little change from the provisional organization initially assigned by Sony Chepelin, the 8th Assault Magic Infantry Battalion has reached full strength.
Moreover, the two airships stored at the Mtsensk Fortress were moved to the battalion quarters.
It seemed like there was a thought to relocate the battalion base, but the colonel decided to stay put.
Even while the barracks were being expanded and new buildings were being built, the battalion members continued their relentless training.
By now, not only the combat units but also the administrative and support personnel, including soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and officers, had reached the level where they could perform drops with their eyes closed.
– How many drops today?
– Three.
– Fewer than expected? Let’s finish quickly and go eat.
The soldiers were having such casual conversations with ease.
This kind of change wasn’t limited to the members of the 8th Assault Magic Infantry Battalion alone.
The Technical Education Research Office, which is working on a joint project with us, also began enthusiastically proposing ideas applicable to the battalion.
Among them was something akin to a ‘parachute.’
Since the current airship deployment, ‘Diabolus,’ isn’t designed for high-altitude operations, it was put on hold as it doesn’t seem very helpful right now.
While Diabolus can reach up to 60 meters above ground, which is sufficient for drops, it’s ambiguous whether it’s suitable for parachute delivery.
Typically, hand-deployed parachutes operate at 150 meters, whereas Diabolus’ maximum ascent altitude is 60 meters.
‘Still, it’ll be needed someday. Tell them to keep it safely instead of discarding it.’
Currently, our maneuvers are limited to a few dozen meters, but during the early stages of the great war, airships will be used as strategic bombers dropping bombs from hundreds of meters above.
As Petrinant’s airships continue to evolve,
appropriate personal equipment and weapons will also need to be developed. Parachutes will surely become one of those essential items.
‘I’m satisfied with how things are progressing.’
At this rate, it seems we can successfully conduct delaying actions against the Soviev Empire.
Still, the question of why Okhraine fell remains.
‘Jointly developing airships with the Rhinehardt Empire, creating and operating elite units, and having the leadership fully committed to reform…’
What happened over these five years that turned Okhraine into a nation devastated in less than a month?
Something clearly went wrong, though I can’t pinpoint exactly what.
‘If only I had connections within an intelligence agency…’
I slammed my notebook shut.
Before that,
I had to wrap up the assigned operation first.
*
“Roxanna, are you here?”
“Yes! Lieutenant!”
Behind the battalion grounds lies the airship hangar. Though crude compared to modern hangars, its arched roof gives it a rather impressive appearance.
“You really do have a lot of interest in airships.”
Lieutenant Roxanna Elrim usually spends her time here at the hangar instead of the usual 1st Platoon quarters.
When called, Roxanna turned her head to answer. Her pink hair fluttered in the wind.
“Hehe… It feels like a dream…”
“Learning early won’t hurt, right? You never know, maybe Lieutenant Elrim will become a pilot?”
“Huh?! Can I really drive it?”
“There’s no reason why not.”
Petrinant’s airships rise using gas-filled balloons for buoyancy and move with internal combustion engines, similar to real-world airships.
However, the internal combustion engine is merely a secondary control device; the primary propulsion method relies on magic.
A special crystal called ‘Marble’ acts as the engine.
And this Marble is a simplified version of the ‘Pearl of Omen’ stolen from Belgorod Fortress.
Since magic is the main power source, there’s no reason why Roxanna, a 1st-grade green magician, couldn’t operate it.
“That would be wonderful.”
“How’s your health holding up?”
“As you can see, I’m fully prepared! Dr. Edward also said I should be fine for a while.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Roxanna smiled brightly. Doctor Edward Brecht, the battalion’s assigned medical officer, was staying at an inn in nearby Stout Village.
Being personally appointed by her father, he came here specifically to care for Roxanna’s treatment and nursing.
He truly is a dedicated professional. Considering how much I owe him, I should treat him to a meal sometime.
“To tell the truth, I’ve been getting along with the pilots and practicing the controls on the side.”
“Ah, so that’s why you’ve been visiting the hangar frequently lately.”
“It’s fun. And since I’m a green magician, I’m already accustomed to riding the winds and flying.”
Roxanna Elrim is a soldier who strives to prove her worth in every possible way. Even the other battalion members, who initially viewed her with skepticism, now admire and acknowledge her passion.
Rather, because she appears physically weaker than others and is even dealing with illness,
her enthusiasm has inspired others to work harder, leading to positive outcomes.
“So, why did you come looking for me?”
“Well, there’s no particular reason. Since we’re deploying in a few hours, I just wanted to talk face-to-face.”
“…So even you get nervous, Lieutenant?”
Upon hearing my words, Roxanna asked with an interested look. Well… since I’ve heard this question countless times, I brushed it off casually.
It’s all due to my nature.
Nature, nothing more.
“I’m not some mechanical golem.”
“Regardless, Lieutenant always seems to know everything.”
“Ah.”
The reason I approach both actual combat and training calmly compared to others isn’t because I’m an old player of Hearts of General.
From enlisting at 24 to retiring at 32,
I participated in numerous real battles and operations. Among them were special missions like the current one and operations resembling full-scale warfare.
I’ve grown accustomed to infiltrating through the skies, killing people, and pulling triggers.
The only difference now is that I’ve swapped my HK assault rifle for a fictional lever-action rifle.
“Still, I do feel tension. Not for myself… but for the fear of you all getting hurt or dying.”
That’s why Sony Chepelin included the 72-hour survival training in the snowy mountains. That’s why after two weeks of drop training, she ordered the eradication of a fortified town filled with bandits.
Because those are the core elements of the upcoming operation.
Sony Chepelin’s magical bombardment, which was once done leisurely, will now be aimed to k*ll.
Because the enemies we face won’t be unarmed civilians or ragtag thieves but soldiers from one of the world’s strongest armies, the Soviev Empire.
Just that fact alone raises the difficulty of mission success to terrifying levels.
Roxanna closed her mouth upon understanding. d*ath. Given her condition, she is perhaps the one among the unit who encounters d*ath most routinely, thus comprehending what I was trying to say.
After taking a deep breath, she added resolutely:
“We must prevent that from happening.”
“I think the same.”
Following the girl’s gaze towards the airship, beyond the horizon, the twilight was slowly fading.
Operation Name: The Night of the Empire.
Time remaining until launch: approximately 5 hours.
