Chapter 49

"Direct hit confirmed! Enemy submarine! No response!"

"Hah, did that colossus just destroy the White Shark?"

Having confirmed the sight of the submarine White Shark, belching flames and smoke as it surfaced, Commodore Kyle Wenly of the cruiser Veloster could not believe what was unfolding before his eyes.

The colossus-made of a heavy frame wrapped in thick armor-had been completely helpless underwater.

That was why the army and navy had always drawn a strict line between their domains: knights for the land, admirals for the sea.

Yet here stood a being that shattered that very arrangement.

"Signal from the transport Island!"

"Report it."

"From this moment we will come alongside the enemy vessel and recover the colossus. Requesting the captain's permission. That is all!"

Even as the sailor spoke, the transport that had once carried Yaan and its flotilla were already moving toward them.

"Send a reply. The colossus has been assigned to this vessel; accordingly this vessel, Veloster, will personally recover it. That is all!"

At first all attention had been on the Commander said to have come from the capital, but now that had changed.

The owner of that ashen colossus right before his eyes.

Kyle, growing more intrigued by the knight who had achieved in a single day what no one had managed in two years, grinned as the wreckage of the White Shark drew nearer.

"Run lines to the submarine wreck! Tow it to port and detain the crew for interrogation!"

"Aye!"

Those White Shark sailors who had tormented them for so long.

With eyes blazing for revenge, the sailors scattered to every corner of the ship in perfect order.

"Tell me in detail."

Yaan had destroyed the enemy submarine even before reaching the front lines, yet after hearing Nill's report his face hardened.

[Analysis of the wreckage indicates the Frame was produced approximately three years ago. The missiles fired here were produced... three days ago.]

"So they didn't dig up an Ancient relic-they built this submarine themselves?"

[Affirmative. More precisely, it is highly probable that their production facility is active.]

"Hah, what a headache."

Hearing Nill's explanation, Yaan pressed a hand to his forehead.

A factory churning out Ancient relics under enemy control-no less dangerous than the Tauros incident.

Bwooo-!

Startled by the cruiser's whistle astern, Yaan turned around.

The cruiser had appeared beside the White Shark's wreck and was signaling to him.

"I can't read navy signals anyway."

So Yaan thought, but when sailors on the central deck cleared away lifeboats and beckoned, he understood what they meant.

Thump-! Thump-!

[Analysis of deck material complete. Adjusting ground pressure. Internal suspension active.]

Fsssh-!

Even if its soles were made of the same plating as the colossus, a colossus was originally too heavy to board a warship.

The concentrated pressure on its narrow footpads would punch straight through the deck.

Yet Glaepnir, built with Ancient tech, dispersed its center of gravity just as it had in the muddy field, and lightly stepped onto the cruiser's deck.

"Hah, seeing a colossus sitting on a cruiser-"

"In all my days I never thought I'd witness such a sight."

Sailors securing chains and cables to the White Shark's wreck for towing muttered at the spectacle.

"Hey! Come look at this!"

Their banter was cut short; startled by a veteran's shout, the sailors rushed over.

"Save us...!"

"I can't... can't breathe!"

"Get us out!"

From the underside of the overturned hull, through gaps torn by internal explosions, dozens of arms thrashed in desperation.

"Ugh, what the-?"

"The hull flipped and blocked the exit. They're crawling up for air because the bottom's jammed with wreckage and water."

"Tch, no way we can break through that."

An air pocket had formed beneath the upturned hull, but air was steadily leaking through the holes.

To plug the leaks the crew had shoved their own arms into the gaps, trying to buy their comrades a few more breaths.

"Damn pirates-guess they're not keen on dying after all."

"What do we do with these arms? Cut them off?"

A few sailors turned away at the sight of blue, dying flesh, but most wore not pity but satisfaction.

"Bet the lads on that destroyer you sank begged just the same."

"We couldn't even find their corpses, you bastards. Think we'll save you?"

News that five prisoners and the captain had already been taken from another wreck meant no more captives were needed here.

"Please... just save us...!"

"I'll tell you everything! I'll do whatever you say-just spare our lives!"

"It's cold! If this keeps up all eighty trapped here will die!"

Dozens of arms waved frantically, begging for life, yet the sailors' eyes remained cold.

"Screw those pirate scum-let them rot."

"Hey. We're pulling out. When the tow starts the hull'll flip again and they'll all drown."

Having spoken, the veteran dismissed the finished work parties and stared at the empty hull.

Besides the arms protruding from the upper gaps, more limbs writhed from the lower hull, pleading for rescue.

"Let the bastards die on their own."

Spitting in disgust at the memory of long years of suffering at their hands, the veteran returned to the cruiser.

"No different from the frontier front lines here."

While the sailors mocked the survivors, Glaepnir's chest plates opened and Yaan emerged.

The face of the man who had created this living hell looked far too composed-serene, even.

Rrrrr-!

The cruiser's engines turned the underwater turbines, and the White Shark's chained hull was drawn away, the many arms that had burst from the holes plunged back beneath the waves.

"Aaaagh! Nooo!"

"Please! I beg you!"

Moments after the first screams, the sailors inside, tossed by surging water and debris, were torn apart and silenced forever.

"A record hard to believe for a first battle, Sir Knight."

Hearing the voice behind him, Yaan turned. A young officer in a spotless white uniform-not the army's brown or the knights' black-gave a crisp salute.

"Captain Kyle Wenly of the cruiser Veloster."

The brown-haired, bright-eyed officer wore a friendly smile that some might call frivolous.

"Knight Yaan Verkut, rank Lieutenant."

"Pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant."

The two shook hands.

Noting the commander's insignia on his cap, Yaan said,

"You outrank me. Please, speak freely."

"You guard the land, we guard the sea-ranks hardly matter between us."

"Still...."

Before Yaan could draw a line, Kyle flung an arm around his shoulders and laughed.

"We look about the same age-let's be comfortable with each other. That work for you?"

Seeing the grinning face, Yaan inwardly frowned.

'Another unreadable one.'

He thought of the green-haired half-elf he had met before but kept it off his face.

"...Fine. Let's do that."

"Hey now, making only me speak casually?"

"...I said all right-so let go of my shoulder."

Content, Kyle released his grip. While Yaan's face remained blank, Kyle's eyes sparkled with mischief.

"Still can't believe it, no matter how many times I see it."

He looked toward the White Shark's hull being towed by the cruiser.

"Those pirates who plagued our fleet for two years-gone, just like that."

"...."

It wasn't over yet, but Yaan kept the words to himself.

It was questionable, and to convince them, he would have to reveal the abilities Nill possessed.

"Now that the submarine's gone, this supply ship is completely safe. It'll take about a day to reach port-how about a drink in my office until then?"

Alcohol here too, huh.

Yaan, sighing as though exhausted, muttered half-heartedly toward Kyle, who was already leading him into the ship's interior.

"I can't hold my liquor."

***

"The moment we hit the front lines, you rack up a flawless record, Lieutenant Yaan."

"I was just lucky."

The dark, dark Vailsar sea.

While reinforcing the chains securing the White Shark's hull, the Veloster and the transport convoy-temporarily moored at an uninhabited island equipped as a relay point-had landed with a skeleton crew of sentries to shake off their fatigue.

"Where should we move these supplies?"

"To Storage Three. Put the dried goods beside it."

"Yes, sir!"

"Lord Creator in heaven, guide today our brothers who have vanished, and forgive their sins...."

The mingled sailors-some shifting cargo from the supply ship in advance, others mourning fallen comrades-gave the island a strange air, as though life and death were interwoven.

"A sailor rises on land and sleeps in the sea."

"...Is that some sort of unit motto?"

"No? I just made it up. Pretty cool, right?"

Yaan gave a reluctant nod to Kyle, who had refilled his cup and was now approaching.

"Seems you two got pretty close in such a short time?"

"Haha, we're going to be stuck blushing at each other for a while anyway-no point standing on ceremony."

Cain, coming up behind the joking Kyle, smiled and opened his mouth.

"I agree. So why don't you speak comfortably to me as well?"

"Come on, who'd dare speak casually to the young Duke Lorenz? I'd be dragged away."

'You're already saying whatever you please.'

Seeing Kyle speak that way right in front of the Duke himself, Cain smiled in amusement.

It seemed Cain found it intriguing to meet someone-unlike Yaan-who didn't care about his origins.

"Lieutenant, do I look like the sort who'd do something just because I let my speech drop?"

"Even if the Commander scolds you, the ducal House of Lorenz can handle the fallout."

"Haha! Fair point!"

Cain laughed around the campfire, looking far more relaxed than when he'd been at the capital; Kyle spoke up to Yaan.

"Still, giving a mission the instant he becomes a knight-shouldn't they at least give him time to pick a commander?"

"A commander?"

When Yaan echoed the question, Cain chimed in as if he understood.

"Exactly. Especially for a lieutenant with no successor, the choice of a commander is all the more important."

So spoke the two men, but Yaan himself looked indifferent.

"The Commander didn't bring his own commander either."

"My commander is currently in advanced training at the knights' academy. I can't drag him to the front lines at such a crucial time."

"Oh? If it's the Commander's commander, he must be only twelve by now? Already attending the academy?"

When Kyle voiced the question, Cain answered with a smile, not seeming displeased.

"A full year faster than I was, and they used to call me the family prodigy. If not for his bloodline, he'd have shone even sooner."

News that the Lorenz heir had taken a common-born child as his commander had rocked the Empire.

Of course, to Yaan-cooped up at the front-it was the first he'd heard of it.

"In any case, you'd best choose as soon as possible. If you wish, I can scout some promising candidates...."

"No. That won't be necessary."

Yaan's eyes, having declined Cain's offer, were fixed on one corner of the island.

"Hah, this scrawny little runt thinks he can join the Penal Corps?"

"You sure that thing's hanging properly between your legs? Wanna check?"

"Check it. Pretty face like that-if it's missing, we'll all take turns till tomorrow."

"You crazy bastard, you'd take turns even if it's there!"

The soldier-clutching his gear to his chest like a barricade-glared at the Penal Corps members surrounding him.

It was Irene, whom he'd met on deck earlier.

"Where are you looking?"

"Conducting background checks."

"What?"

Just as Cain tilted his head at Yaan's remark-

"Argh! That psycho bit me!"

"Shit, the lunatic's lost it!"

"Hey! Hey! He's coming at us!"

Thud!

Irene-having bitten the savage fingers thrust at her-was seen flying from a furious Penal Corpsman's kick.

"Ugh?!"

"Damn it, the brat had a shovel hidden in his gear...!"

"Still making trouble to the end. Arrogant little shit!"

But that desperate resistance was the end.

Irene, seized by Penal Corps members who handled every filthy task below decks, was being brutally beaten.

"Ugh! Ugh!"

Crouched behind the gear held out in front, Irene took the blows as best she could.

After gazing into her eyes for a moment, Yaan gave a small nod and rose.

"Lieutenant Yaan?"

"Where are you going?"

Ignoring Cain and Kyle, Yaan walked toward them. Soon the Penal Corps members sensed his approach, spotted the brand on his shoulder, and whistled.

"Well, well-our hero rat has arrived?"

"Looking sharp, Sir Knight."

"Heard you sucked the Emperor's backside so well they gave you a knighthood?"

The moment they recognized Yaan, insults and mockery poured forth. Listening in silence, Yaan addressed them with a blank face.

"What did you do to my commander?"

At those words, the Penal Corps members, Cain and Kyle who were watching, and even Irene observing the scene, all fell silent.

"...What?"

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