episode_0020

A day has passed.

I went to work with a happy heart and headed to the special forces instructor’s office fairly early.

“Good morning, Instructor Aria.”

“……Good morning.”

I thought I got to work fairly early, but Instructor Aria was already sitting down and preparing something less than 30 minutes before the regular class time started.

I can’t see it because of the partition, and I have no intention of seeing it.

No matter what materials are being prepared, Instructor Aria’s team is the ‘enemy’ that Lavender must defeat anyway.

“Fenrir.”

“Ah, Fenrir. yes. I saw it.”

“…Was there anything special?”

Even though it was instructor Aria, the beast of creation seemed curious and asked in a subdued voice while looking at the monitor.

‘He’s an ace pilot, so he’s probably curious.’

Looking at it objectively, Instructor Aria has the ability to drive an SS-class aircraft that uses the ether bus as its engine and core.

He probably knows that too, so he’s probably asking with a hint of anticipation.

“Okay. I thought he might have come to see Instructor Aria, but he wasn’t particularly interested in me or Lavender.”

“Speechless words.”

“If Fenrir asks me in the future if he is looking for a pilot for himself, I will recommend Instructor Aria.”

“Really, nonsense.”

I can feel my voice getting a little excited as I say this.

It may be nonsense, but for an ace pilot, there is nothing more exciting than being praised and respected for his piloting skills.

Being qualified to fly an ether bus is also a compliment to being an excellent pilot who is ranked among the top 12 in the world.

‘I can’t actually confirm that, though.’

The only way to confirm that is through war.

Everyone is just implicitly measuring rankings, but they don’t actually rank them.

On the outside.

“Oh, indeed. Instructor Aria. Do you have some time for lunch today?”

“…….”

“It’s not a meal suggestion, it’s because we need to discuss the budget while eating.”

“If that’s the case.”

Instructor Aria looked at the clock for a moment as if she had something in mind.

“When eating, let’s eat comfortably.”

He spoke in a somewhat kinder voice and pointed to the clock hanging on the wall.

“4 PM. Since the lectures overlap at the same time, let’s talk about work at that time. Are you going to talk about work until lunchtime?”

“That’s right, but…”

Unless we’re talking about work, why would I eat with this woman?

“I will make a reservation at the restaurant outside. Do you like beef steak?”

“I can’t eat it because I don’t have it.”

“I will buy it.”

“…….”

weird.

Someone I know said that favor extends to pork.

“What do you want? When it comes to budget…”

“I’m not particularly interested in money issues.”

Instructor Aria got up from her seat and approached me.

“Fenrir.”

“…….”

“You saw it with your own eyes, so I’d like to hear more details.”

“…Well, if it’s that much.”

never.

“It may be a rambling story, but as long as I’m talking about what I saw, there’s no problem.”

It’s definitely not because I’m fascinated by beef steak.

* * *

9 a.m. sharp.

“Hello, instructor.”

“Your face has been harassed by students since morning.”

“…….”

“It must be hard because you’re so popular. You are.”

With Lavender, who came into the classroom exactly on time, I brightened up the quiet classroom atmosphere with a light conversation.

“Half of you would have come to ask about Fenrir, and the other half would have been interested after seeing your skills.”

“Ugh.”

“You can still understand the former, but don’t you think so about the latter? When I shot an ally, the people who were criticizing me changed their faces and tried to come closer to me when I achieved results.”

“……Are you talking about your experience?”

Lavender asks in a slightly gloomy voice.

“Or is this universal?”

“It is also a basic human habit. This may be your first time, but it happens often to powerful and famous people. I was like that at one time too.”

“How were you in the past?”

“That’s confidential.”

You can talk about this much.

For the growth of students.

“Everyone is looking for me, and those who ignored me before I showed my ability, now that I stand out, beyond being jealous and envious, they are trying to take advantage of me.”

“…….”

“It’s like measles experienced by talented and capable people. I can’t help it. What can I do when I am so proud? So you can open your chest.”

“…….”

“Be proud of your talents, student.”

Lavender Whiteley is talented.

A talent that will beat everyone in this academy.

“In that sense, from now on, Lavender Whiteley, you plan to regularly go into space about once a week to practice combat against ether monsters.”

“Yes?”

“We have shown good results, and we want to achieve the same level of performance in the future, so the Academy must also approve it.”

What if I don’t do it?

“For the first practical experience, people talk about how lucky they are or whatever, or it can create a sense of discomfort that other students are also trying to do this. If such nonsense turns around and says that your sorties will not be possible in the future, I want to tell them to wake up from their dreams.”

At the faculty meeting, they tried to stop Lavender from competing, citing all kinds of reasons.

“The principal saw your battle record in person.”

“Ah…!”

“Congratulations. Because I have a strong background.”

“Thank you…”

Lavender lowered her head, ready to burst into tears without knowing why.

“Ugh, I feel like I’m being recognized like this, ah, why am I like this…?”

“If the principal is going to cry like that just because he saw the battle report, then if I tell you more about what I have to say in the future, I will just burst into tears.”

“……When you say something like that, I feel like the tears that were about to come out go inside.”

“Is that so? Well then, I’m glad.”

There is a problem with teaching classes to students whose eyes are swollen from crying loudly.

“Through this practical training, we gained two things. One is the operation of Harkon N’s special forces.”

“Ah!”

“Stop liking me already. It’s not operated by the B team, but by special forces.”

“Ahh….”

The higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment.

“You use it over there too…”

Lavender immediately realized the meaning of my words and became sullen.

“Well, maybe it’s not the 5th generation…?”

“A reserve aircraft used by the Colony Defense Force has been reorganized and used for education and training and actual combat purposes. Since there are five students in the special platoon, one person takes turns using it each day of the week.”

“…….”

“Don’t feel too uncomfortable. Not only will you only be able to drive Harkon N for a short time, but you can also drive a regular Harkon if you want.”

“Rather, it feels more like the regular Harkon can be driven as a private plane.”

“Hehe, are you already thinking about a private plane?”

“The instructor said that an ace must match the aircraft to the pilot.”

“Okay. I learned it correctly.”

I don’t know who taught it, but I learned it really well.

“In that sense, this is the second thing I got. It’s a dedicated transport plane.”

“Dedicated transport?”

“A large transport ship different from the Hall Reporter. If necessary, we plan to receive support for a transport ship that can carry a 50m super mecha.”

“Wow…!”

Lavender put her hands together and her eyes lit up.

“That means gathering more ether ore.”

“That’s right.”

“Is that also operated by special forces?”

“We plan to discuss this with Instructor Aria, but she also will not hesitate to use practical training if it is helpful for special forces training.”

“Ugh….”

Even though the number of aircraft has increased, it is inconvenient in many ways for different teams to use it in common.

“In that sense, there are a few changes to your training plan starting today.”

“Yes?”

“Except for the theory, culture, and physical training classes that I have to teach, I plan to fill all the remaining time with mock battles and actual training.”

“…….”

Lavender opens her mouth in surprise.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“Well, instructor?”

“Okay. He is an instructor.”

“Theory, culture, and physical training are all taught by an instructor?”

“……Is there any problem with that?”

Isn’t that what all special forces instructors do?

Doesn’t that mean they get paid two or three times as much as other instructors?

Isn’t this something that an instructor who is not in charge of many students in a regular class and has to raise special forces aces should do?

“I understand that Instructor Aria is in charge of the entire Special Forces Team A.”

“Well, that is.”

“And I also have no intention of teaching classes that I can’t do. For example, I plan to leave the emergency rescue and space health classes to instructor Aria, or to a teacher who specializes in medical classes.”

“Uh….”

“Even though I am your instructor, I have no intention of measuring your body myself.”

“…….”

Lavender blushes and lowers her head.

“So the rest is mock training and actual combat, but this part is up to you starting from today.”

“What can I do?”

“It’s simple.”

I displayed a screen of materials I had prepared in advance on the blackboard screen.

“Starting today, you will be having a ‘person-to-person battle’. A mock battle against real people.”

“People…. Who are you?”

“Of course.”

I tapped my foot lightly on the floor.

“All pilots in this academy.”

“…….”

“Okay. Could it be said to be a kind of seal-breaking? Or should we say that it is like a ritual to accept a challenger from the position of champion.”

“Hey, a little more detail….”

“To put it simply, I will be sending out a notice to Starlight Academy as of today.”

I delivered the notice to Lavender’s terminal that I wanted to spread throughout the academy.

“Whoever defeats Lavender Whiteley will be eligible to join the special forces.”

“…….”

“And among the most special materials this instructor has…”

A very special piece of information was used as bait.

“Amethyst’s creation tree, Fenrir.”

Data on the Ether Bus.

“I know why he appeared in this area.”

Based on elements that will appeal to everyone.

“So, from now on, every day, defeat all those who challenge you. Even if it’s to protect Fenrir’s secret.”

“…Everything?”

“That’s right. For reference.”

I don’t know about lavender.

“Before the class started, I sent a reservation email.”

“Oh.”

“The email was sent 5 minutes ago.”

I leisurely walked to the front door of the classroom.

“Now, I can’t run away.”

The classroom door was locked.

10 minutes later.

“Open the door! Right now!!”

People who were suspiciously interested in Fenrir made a fuss outside the classroom by banging harshly on the door.

“Um, instructor….”

“Pay attention. We are currently conducting a liberal arts class on the history of the space age.”

Outsiders are not allowed to enter during sacred teaching hours.

“If you ask, come during break time.”

Where are you in class?