episode_0130

The duration of the mock battle, a total of 8 minutes.

Although it was a long and short period of time, we achieved clear results.

“Green Camp Team A. What did you learn?”

“…We have realized that we cannot reach the colony ace pilot yet.”

“I understand perfectly.”

The four members of Team A, including Andy, clearly realized their position through this battle.

“You guys have become stronger. I received a good aircraft and developed good skills. There will be no one stronger than you at the academy undergraduate level, and if you enter the academy undergraduate competition, you will definitely win. With 4 people.”

Green Camp has become stronger.

It has reached a level that no one can touch.

“At least for undergraduate competitions.”

At the amateur to semi-professional level.

“The battlefield is a real battle. There may have been cases where the space marines’ attack made you feel cold. Keep in mind that in the professional world, in the professional world, every single moment can lead to death.”

Although Green Camp survived the countless bombardments of space marines, there is no way to prevent such a situation from happening again during a melee.

“Then how should we act in practice in the future?”

“We will strictly deal with only those enemies that we can deal with.”

Andy raises his hand and answers.

“You will be able to show off your winning spirit and take on strong enemies. But if that happens, it may be a situation where people around us can’t help us or we have to deal with it.”

“For example?”

“What if the four of us have to block the enemy’s special ability that has infiltrated the colony for 3 minutes…?”

“That’s a perfect answer. So what are the next steps?”

“I will call for support from allies who can take down that enemy, and then buy time. While surviving.”

“Yes.”

I clapped my hands at the four riders.

“You guys are strong. But there are still many people in the universe who are much stronger than you. From their perspective, you may be no different from the named space marines.”

“…….”

“It must be unfair. But this is reality. Among the enemies, there are those who have been active as veteran aces for more than 10 years, like Shin Gung. They are even people who have undergone actual combat training as real soldiers. Is it unfair to be pushed out against those people?”

“No!”

“Okay. There is no need to feel unfair. One day, as a long time passes, you will actually overwhelm them, and as time passes, the day will come when you will have to deal with young people like you now.”

Although it may not feel right now.

“You have to survive. Do you understand?”

“”””Yes!!””””

The four respond in loud voices.

Although I have compiled the report myself, I am quite satisfied with the results of this battle.

“And Team B, Lavender.”

“Yes.”

Lavender, who seemed somewhat dissatisfied, answered me bluntly but sincerely.

“What do you think you made a mistake?”

“You must keep in mind the possibility that the opposing ace pilot may disregard his own life and commit suicide.”

Lavender perfectly recognized her own flaws and the areas where she had fallen short.

“That’s right. The battlefield is a scene of madness. Always keep in mind that in that madness, those who come to the battlefield as if brainwashed can sacrifice their lives for the colony.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Although I consoled Lavender separately, she must have been greatly shocked by this battle.

What if it was a real battle and not a mock battle?

What if my opponent has similar or superior skills to me, but throws his life away to stop me?

It may be something that young Lavender can’t understand, but when it comes to actual combat, at least she won’t be caught up in the self-destruction.

And last.

“Instructor Aria.”

“Yes, instructor Cloud.”

“The instructor is….”

Lastly, Aria swept the battlefield in a wide area using the Red Moon technology.

“Please talk to me separately.”

* * *

After a while.

“Is this a story worth calling into a separate room and talking about?”

I called Instructor Aria separately to my room.

Instructor Aria followed me to my room wearing a pilot suit without even showering, and I took an electrolyte drink from the refrigerator and handed it to her.

“How do you feel about climbing the red moon and hitting with full power?”

“……Didn’t you mean to say something bitter?”

“Are you looking for bitter words?”

“If not, why is it called this…?”

“I called you to compliment you.”

Instructor Aria tilts her head.

In reality, both hands had already received the electrolyte drink I handed them.

“Standing still might be the same, but sit down.”

“This is a good place to sit….”

“It’s here.”

As I sat down on the bed and knocked on the side, Instructor Aria sat down next to me, fiddling with the ionic drink with her fingers.

“Don’t forget that feeling of being scraped off in a wide area. I might have to use it again later.”

“Isn’t it just radiating ether?”

“But it’s powerful.”

It’s like a giant monster emitting radiating heat rays.

“Above all, it is excellent in that it ‘identifies enemies’.”

Since ancient times, annihilating enemies with wide-range aircraft has been loved regardless of the aircraft used.

Furthermore, the Red Moon’s wide-area wave attack was the best attack that put the emphasis on the battle in that it could precisely destroy the enemy without causing any damage to allies.

“I’d like to give you some advice, but I don’t really have a way to give it. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not for the instructor to apologize. It’s just a different direction. The instructor is good at thrusting, and I’m good at releasing, right?”

“…….”

Instructor Aria opens her eyes and smiles.

“Isn’t that right?”

“It is said to be the difference between the fighting world and the shooting world.”

I am from the fighting world.

It may be a little awkward to say fighting in an AS battle, but most of my battles involve using melee weapons and inflicting physical damage on the enemy.

Instructor Aria is a shooting expert.

Calmly and accurately fires an ether beam rifle at the enemy, and also wields a beam saber when necessary.

“If you ride a Paladin, you definitely won’t be able to perform as well as you should. Rather, you would be better off handling an all-weather, all-purpose weapon.”

“For example, what?”

“Well. Isn’t this a case like this?”

I took out one of the AS materials.

“Destiny.”

“…You’re talking about an aircraft that combines three variations into one. When necessary, use anti-ship guns, heavy artillery guns, and rifles alternately.”

“It’s different from the ‘bride’ in Virgo Colony. Even with the legless red dress aircraft.”

“…Shall I change it?”

Aria asks cautiously.

“If you change to highly mobile AS even now-”

“You better change it someday. But not now.”

I held Aria’s hand.

“For now, Instructor Aria, it is right to use the best aircraft you can produce. And that…is a bride-type aircraft.”

“If you go that far, well… By the way, instructor.”

Aria quietly points in the direction of the door.

“Why is the door locked?”

“…….”

“And I have never gone out like this…”

“It’s because I have a disease.”

Startle.

Aria is surprised.

“Sickness…?”

“Yes.”

“Sickness, what on earth…?”

“After hearing the story, you may be misunderstood and think that I might be playing a trick, but there is no one here who can reveal my illness other than the instructor.”

“…….”

Aria looked at me sheepishly.

“You can’t even tell Lavender?”

“Yes.”

“I see.”

When asked about lavender, he smiles softly.

“What is it?”

“It’s like a jinx, but you have to do it after the battle to win the next battle.”

“……Yes?”

Aria flinches and tilts her head.

“Perhaps, that.”

“Should we say that it is a process to clearly feel the sense of being alive.”

“…I heard you have been fighting as a pilot since you were young.”

“Shhh.”

I put my hand on Aria’s lips.

“From the perspective of the universe as a whole, such inconvenient things are just a mere glimmer.”

“So you called me to break the jinx?”

“Why. Isn’t it possible?”

“No. It’s just… Paladin’s jinx was like that. It seems a little bit stripped of mysticism and image.”

“Isn’t it good because it’s humane?”

“I don’t know if it’s good yet, but I can definitely tell that it’s manly.”

Instructor Aria chuckled.

“So what happens after breaking the jinx?”

“Undefeated.”

“……Yes?”

“After I controlled AS and cooled off with it, I have never lost a battle.”

“…….”

“On the contrary, on days when I didn’t do it, I suffered serious damage. Either someone dies, or my aircraft is severely damaged, or the shuttle holding me hostage explodes.”

“……Is this a threat?”

Aria narrowed her eyes.

“If you don’t listen, someone will die?”

“I was just telling the truth. Whether to believe or not is up to Instructor Aria.”

“Hmm….”

Aria looked me up and down for a while.

“Okay. Shower room, Billy for a moment-”

“No.”

As he was about to get up, I sat down.

“Hey, instructor.”

“Please do not misunderstand. It’s not because I have that kind of taste.”

I pulled Instructor Aria towards the bed to prevent her from escaping.

“It was because I was trying to keep the heat after the battle a little more intense. If you wash it…problems will arise again.”

“……Is there a reason why you didn’t want to go into battle?”

“Of course.”

I pressed Instructor Aria firmly.

“Are you disillusioned?”

“……If the best pilot in the universe can participate in a ritual that ensures unconditional victory, that would be great.”

Aria spoke with a sullen expression on her face, then slowly smiled.

“……Don’t call me instructor in bed, right?”

* * *

After the mock battle.

It is said that the 1:1 feedback to instructor Aria lasted for about 8 hours.