episode_0093

Now the battle between Lavender and the Shrine is unfolding.

I am communicating with someone over a separate line, via text rather than voice.

[Is that person gay?]

The message sent by Instructor Aria is quite sharp.

[Is that so, Instructor Cloud?]

[I’m not gay. I don’t know what will happen to that man.]

I am not gay.

Even though the Universal Century has become a space cyberpunk era where sexual freedom has increased and the diversity of human individuals has become richer, the choice of gender is sometimes free, at least I am not gay.

[Are you saying Shin Gung is gay?]

[I don’t know. I can only hope that he is not the kind of pervert who is after me.]

[Don’t joke.]

[I am answering seriously. Some ace pilots are crazy about that.]

Although such cases were rare in the Galaxy Unit, it does not mean that they did not exist at all.

Fortunately, they were a couple, and the relationship was between a male pilot and an artificial intelligence AI mecha.

Something strange?

There is nothing strange.

There is no rule that says a male pilot of a brave robot must have a childhood friend, a pretty girl heroine, and sometimes there are cases where a love triangle is created between AS and a blond American military man who trusts and helps him.

It may not be said to be correct for the cosmic century, but it is also true that at least various attempts are being made in that direction with the development of ether technology.

[I never thought Shin Gung would be that kind of person.]

I misunderstood Aria’s praise – no, I’m not sure yet.

The gentleman I knew was not gay, but he may have become gay in the past few years.

So, isn’t it possible to make such a statement out loud?

[Instructor. Assuming that it wasn’t a sexual conversation, I guess that’s correct, right?]

[Which way were you thinking?]

[coalescence.]

[Isn’t it merging in that direction as well?]

[Instructor. Chats remain in the log.]

“…….”

I told him to relax, but I think the joke went a bit too far.

[And since the merger has to be done with me, I also want to make this story a little more clear.]

[I will unite behind Instructor Aria.]

[yes. In the cockpit.]

If you thought something strange about this conversation, that person is definitely someone who thinks strange things on a regular basis.

What else is there but one union that takes place in the sacred cockpit?

[Shingung: Is that person aiming for combined AS with the instructor? Like AS led by instructors in the past?]

[There was an image of a lancer traveling through space. Whether it’s a disk, a phoenix, or a horse like Sleipmir, there still seems to be a lot of interest in the ether lance single-point assault.]

The reason I can guess why Shingung is showing interest in me is that the most likely reason is that he wants me to ride on his back.

[Shingung concentrates on maneuvering and dodging, and I climb on his back and swing the ether weapon. We’ve often talked about that in the past.]

Paladin is basically a name that reminds us of the medieval ‘lancer’.

In fact, my role was similar to that, and I operated two aircraft during what could be considered my heyday.

A blue and white knight riding a horse in space.

By combining cavalry and horsemen as one, gathering etheric energy and charging with lances, my Genesis Beast and I were able to rip off dozens of battleships with just a charge.

That’s what Shingung wants to do.

Just like I did with the Creation Tree, he wants to run through space using his own aircraft as a replacement for the Creation Tree.

[He’s always said that I’m the only one who can follow his moves. That’s why you say such strange things.]

[Unless you’re gay, that is.]

[yes.]

When it comes to reactions, he has a natural talent.

When I first saw Lavender, I felt a similar level of shock as when I saw the shrine.

[Instructor Aria. This is not because I discriminate between men and women, I’m just telling the truth as it is, so don’t worry too much about it.]

[I don’t mind at all, but I’ll listen to it for now. Is there a problem?]

[Obviously, if I drive AS and fight while riding on the back of a shrine, my combat power will definitely be squared.]

Instead of 100+100=200, it will be 100×100.

Since I know very well how the synergy will work, I vaguely understand why Shingung ran away from home and came to me.

[That person must be doing that because he wants to make a ‘spiral assault’?]

[Spiral assault?]

[The lancer flies at full speed with the ether spear pointed forward at the enemy. Instead of just flying, it spins and flies with added torque.]

It was one of the techniques frequently used during active duty.

Of course, at the time, I used it alone or with my Genesis Beast, but I never used it with Shingung.

[I guess I was jealous. You can’t do it alone, and if you do it together, no one can withstand the aircraft spinning and flying forward. Detailed control is impossible with an AI pilot.]

[…Can I try it later?]

Ace pilots, especially those who engage in close combat, sometimes have things they cannot tolerate.

[So, to put it simply, you mean to pierce the enemy battleship with a rush?]

[That’s the way it is.]

[Shingung came here because he wanted to do that with Instructor Cloud.]

[okay.]

[And the Lavender student… seems to be misunderstanding this.]

The conversation between Instructor Aria and I took place ‘during battle.’

Even though there were typos in the chat, we chatted for quite a long time even though we chatted quickly.

in other words.

During that time, the battle between Shingung and Lavender continued.

[It looks like the game of tag is over.]

Shingung runs away, widening the distance with a quick evasive maneuver.

Although the chase continues to fail, Lavender continues to shoot down the ether arrows flying towards her with her claws and does not stop pursuing.

[Instructor. If what the instructor says is correct…]

[Win or lose was decided from the beginning.]

I decided to relax and wait for the results.

[Even if we lose, it will be of great help to Lavender.]

Win or lose.

In the end, we are the ones who win.

* * *

“Haa, haa, haa.”

[Why do you do that? Are you getting tired?]

“….”

Lavender gripped the steering wheel tightly with a burning thirst.

I can tolerate everything else.

It can endure being caught without being caught, not having an appropriate long-distance attack weapon, and constantly blocking blows aimed at the joints or important parts of the aircraft.

[It’s already been 10 minutes. I couldn’t score a single effective hit. If you applied the colony competition rules, you would have already lost.]

I can tolerate provocations that try to scratch my nerves like that.

Because the instructor warned me.

Contrary to his appearance, Shin Gung is a master of trash talk, and is a hunter who enjoys sniping down opponents while shaking them mentally and causing a stir.

Some may say he is a coward, but his skills are certain, and it is not pretentious to be revered as the sole ace of the Sagittarius Colony among the 12 Constellations.

‘pretense.’

okay.

It’s not pretentious.

What I can’t stand is Lavender herself.

“Hey. Fake Japanese.”

[what?]

“What do you mean by having the cloud instructor ride on your back?”

I was concerned about what that man said, and it fueled my pride and made me angry that I didn’t use the power I had.

[Literally. I will wake him up again to active duty and run through space with me in the in-mile font.]

“……In mile font?”

[I become a horseman, and the paladin takes up the spear again. We will become an invincible combination. He should be a pilot, not an instructor.]

Shin Gung aims his bow.

[I have been gathering information about you. A paladin took you as an apprentice, right? In that case, if I completely lose my will to teach at this point, I will give up on you.]

“…….”

[He’s been like that for a long time. Should I step forward? After all, it doesn’t have to be me. You have to realize that again. What is a disciple? If you are still in your late 20s, you are still fresh-]

“That’s right. It’s quick.”

Lavender manipulated the control panel and then slightly lowered her upper body.

“So, don’t try to call him into battle. Because I will fight better than him.”

[With only that level of skill?]

“Do you think this is my pure skill?”

[……!]

The moment she pulled a button, Lavender’s vision began to turn purple.

Pajik, pajik.

Purple electricity engulfs Soultaker’s entire body.

A rotating storm envelops both hands, and their appearance begins to change to resemble a beast.

A wolf?

no.

To say it was a wolf, its shape somehow resembled a legendary beast.

[Cowardly, the power of the Creation Tree…!]

“The instructor said that. All battles require equipment.”

[this…!]

“You do not deserve to be put under the instructor. If I am qualified, I am the owner of the same creation tree.”

Pajik.

“If you come here, please bring Chang Se-su.”

With a phrase that briefly appeared on the monitor, Lavender pulled the booster.

Kwa-euang!

The moment I blinked, Soultaker’s fist, filled with a rotating storm, was pointing at Sleipmir’s head.