episode_0005

Ether Bus.

Among the 12 ores containing ether, a word that refers to the ‘magic stone’, which has the power of ‘origin’ and at the same time has infinite power.

To obtain this so-called ‘birthstone’, mankind has been waging a huge civil war.

If attached to a mecha, it will have enough output to easily destroy three or four colonies in a short period of time.

When attached to a battleship, it makes orbital bombardment and dimensional travel possible using the battleship’s own output.

When utilized in a colony, it is a source that can be used in a nearly ‘infinite’ way, limited to resources such as minerals and energy.

There are countless people who want to obtain this ether bus, including colonies, corporations, and government alliances, and as soon as its source is revealed, humanity is willing to go to war to obtain it.

Especially if a ‘weak colony’ like this had it, this colony would be devastated immediately.

I also know its power well.

In the past, I had an unrelated relationship with an ether bus, so I know it better than anyone else.

The power of the ether bus.

The infinite power of the etherverse.

And so much blood was shed to have that etheric bus.

But is there an energy source that is like a gift from God?

“By any chance, was it sealed in utmost secrecy?”

“…I see. No one knows. But if the colony goes over.”

“It will be revealed eventually. Do you know who is trying to absorb the colony?”

“No. I don’t know. Some people may be guessing, but I presume it is not yet.”

“……What month is it?”

“I can’t tell you that yet.”

yet.

In other words, if I become a special forces instructor, I can tell you.

“To be honest, if it weren’t for you, this colony would be doomed. The fate of the colony rests with you.”

“Why me…. No, maybe this is really fate.”

I arrived at this colony at a time when the colony was almost at a standstill.

“I don’t know what month it is, but as someone who has a bad connection with it, I can’t just ignore it. Good.”

Perhaps this could be my ‘last journey’, but if so, I wish I could burn my remaining energy in something more meaningful.

So, if I can contribute even a little to this universe.

“I will.”

“…Thank you. Sincerely.”

Edmund, the head of the faculty department, had tears in his eyes.

“I didn’t know you would come forward so willingly. Sincerely.”

“But there is one condition.”

“Conditions? If it is a financial condition…”

“No. That’s not the case, but if this part is a problem in the contract terms…”

Knock knock.

There is a knocking sound.

It was a sound indicating that three minutes had passed, and in the end, I was unable to tell Professor Edmund that my weaknesses were not my weaknesses.

“Excuse me. Two interview candidates happened to be here, so we will interview them right away.”

“Interview candidate…huh?”

Behind Principal Stella, a familiar blonde woman is seen.

He is a head taller than Vice Principal Stella and appears to be at least 172cm tall, and he looks quite cold in his white uniform.

He looks familiar, but I don’t know him personally.

Of course, that woman was a famous person who no one knew about as a mechanic pilot.

“Aria Milkyway, Virgo Colony’s ace pilot…?”

“Do you know me?”

“Ah, I know. Aren’t you the winner of the colony competition in the year it was created and the ace pilot of Virgo Colony?”

“That’s right. That one….”

Aria Milky Way looks me up and down.

Then, those eyes continue to look at my mask, and as is natural, disbelief begins to appear in those eyes.

“Ah. That person’s mask is a vision aid.”

“Visual impairment…? If so.”

Aria Milkyway frowned with a serious face.

“As a mechanic pilot instructor, isn’t there a bit of a problem…?”

“Look at this. Are you already disparaging other candidates even before the interview?”

“I’m telling the truth. For me, this special forces instructor position is very important.”

“…….”

I glanced at Professor Edmund, but he shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.

It’s not because of the ether bus.

However, there is no reason for someone like that to come to a small town like this, and to an academy that is on the verge of collapse and being sold.

To put it bluntly, he is a person with the ability to easily earn an annual salary of 200 billion credits in a colony with a little money.

“Let’s start the interview first.”

Vice Principal Stella sat back down with a stiff expression on her face.

“First, about the situation at this academy…”

* * *

According to “…, our academy must win the Colony Competition within 3 years. The key to that victory is the Green Camp Special Forces, and you will virtually compete as the coach of the Starlight team in the space competition.”

“It is quite possible.”

Aria Milky Way immediately exuded confidence.

“I was also the student council president at Virgo Academy, and often taught juniors there. After graduating, I completed a total of 300 hours of instructor training over the course of a year. His skills as an ace pilot are still the same.”

So why would someone like that apply to be an instructor at a place like this?

“Is there a motive for applying?”

“I want to find out how far my teaching skills can go, and there are also personal reasons.”

“May I ask the reason?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

Then, don’t mention personal reasons from the beginning.

In my mind, I passionately criticized Aria’s words, but I couldn’t show it on my face.

“But my life is at stake. I would like to tell you that I do not come forward with a light heart.”

“Umm….”

“If you choose me, I will at least try to win the friendly match at the end of the first semester before participating in this year’s Colony Competition.”

“What?”

Director Stella’s voice rose.

“There are only about 4 months left, but can we win the friendly match…?”

“4 months is enough. Even if the opponent is a ‘Taurus Colony’, I can easily defeat them with my guidance. I also know their tactics well.”

“Ugh, um…. If we can definitely win the friendly match, there is a high possibility that we will be put into a pretty good group for the colony competition preliminary round later…”

Director Stella started talking to himself and making his own schedule.

There must be something written there that says ‘Instructor is Aria’.

“Keuhm.”

I cleared my throat to get Vice Principal Stella’s attention.

“There is nothing more empty than a chef saying that he will make a delicious dish without even seeing the condition of the ingredients.”

“What?”

“Aria Milky Way. I know that he is clearly a genius pilot, an ace with exceptional skills, and a person so outstanding that others call him a ‘new human.’”

This is an undeniable fact.

“But the current interview is for selecting instructors who teach pilots, not for selecting ace pilots.”

“Cloud teacher, that’s-”

“Colonel Edmund. Right?”

“……That’s right. But-”

“I am confident that I can teach better than Instructor Aria.”

Colonel Edmund fidgeted and looked at me, but I resolutely cut him off and continued.

“If you look at my history, you will see that all of the students I taught went on to good academies. As you probably already know…”

“Instructors are different depending on the tutoring and regular curriculum. How are you going to resolve the difference?”

Aria Milky Way comes out from the side.

It may have been a sarcastic tone, but it was clearly a check that came from the fact that he thought of me as a ‘competitor’.

“I completed regular instructor training in one year. I went through practical training and short-term training at Virgo Academy.”

“Aria Milky Way. Are you 24 years old this year? That’s really fast. Is this your first experience teaching students or as an instructor?”

“…I have teaching experience in practical training.”

“Oh my. Pilot Aria Milkyway knows better than others that practice and actual combat are different.”

“However, I have more experience leading platoon members as a leader in colony battles.”

“You two, please stop.”

Vice Principal Stella came in between us, interrupting us.

“I will conduct the interview. I know that you two are very motivated to be instructors, but this is not the place to ask you two to fight.”

“But, Vice Principal, isn’t TO one?”

“Yes. I have come to bury my bones in that empty spot. I will prove that I can teach better than this masked man. Any additional interviews.”

“…Ha.”

Director Stella covered her face with her hands.

“This is really a headache.”

For a moment, I saw her lips between my fingers.

Just now, clearly…

“Good. It is an undeniable fact that both of them are excellent instructors. One of them has no experience in the church yet, but he has a wealth of experience in colony battles, and the other is a private tutor who will unconditionally advance you to a higher level if you just try his hand at it.”

I feel eyes on me from the side.

The way Aria Milky Way looks at me makes me even more wary.

‘This girl seriously thinks I could fail her and pass.’

There is only one seat.

There are two interviewees.

One person becomes a dropout.

“You two…no, I’ll ask Mr. Cloud.”

“Yes, vice principal.”

“During pilot training, have you ever actually flown in an after-sales service?”

“…No.”

The only weakness I have in my current situation.

“I am incapable of receiving AS.”

I cannot climb Mecca.

“Up until now, we have taught students through mock simulations. Of course, that alone was enough to show overwhelming results in practice.”

“…….”

“But if I had to risk my life, I would definitely take off this visor and climb up.”

Literally, it is risking my life for me.

“If you accept me as an instructor, I will use my last remaining spark to make Green Camp Platoon the best pilot platoon.”

“…Okay. Well then, let’s make a decision.”

After Vice Principal Stella nodded once to Director Edmund.

“Passed.”

“…….”

“…….”

After saying just that, he quietly stood up.

“Hey, who passed the test?…”

“Both.”

“…Yes?”

“Did you hear wrong?”

Aria Milkyway also got up from her seat in embarrassment, but Vice Principal Stella smiled once.

“I can’t hire two people because I don’t have money.”

I smiled bitterly and turned my head to the side.

“…I can’t hire you because there are no people.”

That face was a very gloomy one.

“…….”

Well, whatever.

“Congratulations, Instructor Cloud. The same goes for Milky Way instructors. Hahaha!”

That’s how I got a job that burned the last of my soul.