“The last time I came here was during my previous leave, but I never thought I'd be coming back like this. Hwaaam.”
Ideale nodded at Lillian's words beside her, but she couldn't help turning her head and looking at the woman who had insisted on following her with a slightly uncomfortable expression.
Long, messy pink hair. A brown turtleneck layered beneath the oversized white lab coat she always wore. And half-lidded eyes behind thick-rimmed glasses.
In every respect, it wasn't an outfit suited for heading to the front lines.
Especially when even the laboratory researchers had followed her here.
‘……She says she can't miss the opportunity to acquire better specimens. Are researchers always like this?’
It had all started because of the Creature Training Dummy that Jin Crow had continually requested for research.
Unexpectedly, Lillian and the research team had become fascinated by the idea of using Creatures as training dummy material.
Apparently, they especially liked the impact when cadets struck them.
She had continuously requested more specimens from her superiors, but thankfully, perhaps because there were still plenty of sane people in the Ministry of Defense, every request had been denied.
Of course, that was only fortunate from Ideale's point of view.
Then, just as dissatisfaction within Lillian's research team continued to grow, sudden tragic news arrived from the Free Planet Alliance.
〔Th-this is Richard, Consul General of the Free Planet Alliance Embassy. There's a riot—no, and Cr-Creatures...!〕
The Ministry of Defense immediately mobilized all of its intelligence assets in response to the urgent call from the Free Planet Alliance Embassy, where economic issues had practically always been the primary concern. Before long, they learned that a clash had broken out between the Five Major Forces within the Alliance, followed by a sudden Creature invasion.
Regardless of its history or geopolitical position, the Free Planet Alliance was inevitably a nation where people gathered in great numbers.
「The true city of freedom and pleasure」
「A paradise for mercenaries and outlaws」
「A melting pot of races」
「A city for tourism and families」
People viewed it so differently that evaluations which should never have coexisted were attached to it at the same time.
Ironically, if one judged it district by district, none of those descriptions were entirely wrong.
Furthermore, the middle class of every nation often considered it meaningful simply to have visited the Free Planet Alliance—the only place that could truly be called a 'foreign country'—rather than traveling within their own nation.
The appeal and fantasy of a foreign country naturally became associated entirely with the Planet Alliance.
‘The Empire and the Federation are destined to clash.’
The Holy Galactic Empire was an absolute monarchy where the Emperor effectively ruled the nation. The Imperial Family, who were half-Elf and half-human, along with the nobility, led the Imperial Parliament while embracing multiple races.
Each planet was the fiefdom of a noble house, making it a feudal state with a class system consisting of the Imperial Family, the nobility, commoners, semi-commoners, and others.
‘The Human Composite State, on the other hand, couldn't be more different.’
Fundamentally, it advocated pure-blood human supremacy. Although discrimination against those resembling humans, such as androids and cyborgs, had been abolished, society as a whole remained deeply exclusionary toward the other races referred to as non-humans.
It was so extreme that during the First Galactic War, when an Elven noble house surrendered along with every member of its clan, they were all executed without their surrender even being acknowledged.
Of course, afterward, the military and society alike reacted with, ‘Even that went too far,’ resulting in the dismissal of the general and faction responsible. Even now, however, despite discrimination having diminished considerably, subtle prejudice against other races still remained.
Furthermore, although it publicly advocated democracy, most people knew the truth.
The current Federation suffered from every conceivable vice, including mob rule, militarism, and excessive expansionism.
“And that's when the Free Planet Alliance came into existence. Haaam.”
“Right.”
Ideale absentmindedly nodded at Lillian's remark.
The reason Ideale, the headmistress of the Central Special Service Academy, along with the dozen or so instructors following her, a Military Police company, and the researchers from the research wing led by Lillian, had headed to the Free Planet Alliance aboard the 4th Fleet was simple.
“So, what about the cadets whose immigration records remain?”
Because there were records showing that cadets from the Central Special Service Academy had entered none other than Mercato, the capital star of the Free Planet Alliance.
If it had only been one or two cadets—or if they hadn't been particularly important—there would have been no reason for Ideale herself to move.
The 4th Fleet didn't have any Penta Gear–class Superhumans among its ranks, but it did possess a considerable number of Special-duty officers. She would have trusted their abilities and waited.
The problem was the families of the cadets currently stranded in Mercato, and...
“Instructor Jin Crow.”
A Special-duty officer estimated to be Quad Gear.
On top of that, if an instructor from the Central Special Service Academy was stranded there, the situation changed entirely.
There was also Dokgo Ran of the Dokgo Family, Kanae of the Hino Family, Miel of the Amber Family, and so on...
Individually, even if something unfortunate happened, it might somehow be manageable. But if all of those families simultaneously pressured the Ministry of Defense, they were heirs to influential houses powerful enough that even the Ministry couldn't simply brush the matter aside.
Even considering all that, having a Penta Gear Special-duty officer like Ideale move personally was certainly excessive.
Yet after hearing that Jin Crow was also stranded in Mercato, she boarded the ship without the slightest hesitation.
Of course, it wasn't much of a secret that anguished screams and cries blaming someone had erupted from the headmistress's office beforehand.
“……Admiral, how much longer?”
“We're almost there, Brigadier General.”
At present, they were aboard the 4th Fleet's flagship, Barba, having entered the outskirts of the Ludus Star System, where Mercato, the capital star of the Free Planet Alliance, was located.
Ordinarily, it would have been an obvious violation of sovereignty, but both the Empire and the Federation knew that the Free Planet Alliance's Council was nothing more than a puppet, so what did it matter?
“All fleets, increase speed.”
“Yes, Admiral!”
The 4th Fleet rapidly advanced toward Mercato.
Before long, they had no choice but to witness a shocking sight through the flagship's windows.
“Oh.”
Obia let out a characteristic airheaded laugh, followed by an exclamation of amazement.
“……Good heavens.”
“How horrific.”
Even the admiral and the soldiers, veterans who had wandered battlefields for years, could only mutter quiet sighs at the unprecedented sight.
“Naomi.”
“Yes, I'll begin recording.”
Lillian and the lead researcher Naomi gestured to the researchers under them, who immediately began observing and recording the planet's exterior.
“……That's.”
Finally, Ideale's distinctive white pupils reflected the Creatures Jin Crow had warned them about so many times.
The surface of the planet, once commonly called a paradise for money worshippers, had become diseased, with more than half of it covered in purple Void Fissures like malignant tumors. The fissures continued consuming the planet as though they would not stop until they had greedily devoured it whole.
“Creatures.”
Not only her.
Everyone who witnessed the scene finally realized it.
Perhaps, from now on, humanity's enemy would not be only the Empire.
“Instructor!”
“Hmph.”
Just as Jin Crow had spotted them, the cadets soon found him and hurried over.
Naturally, the cadets weren't alone.
Behind them came the exhausted remnants of the Rermal Planetary Defense Force, their fatigue evident after enduring countless brutal battles.
“……”
In particular, Jin Crow briefly met the eyes of Satra, who stood at the front, before quietly shifting his gaze to Baek Hwi-young.
“Instructor, all cadets are safe.”
Anyone who wasn't a fool would notice.
Baek Hwi-young had changed.
How should he put it?
Before, he had seemed like someone whose mind was half broken, desperately trying to appear socially functional, only to suffer fits whenever something triggered him.
Now, however, his eyes had completely changed, making him look perfectly normal.
‘That's creepy in its own way.’
Unlike before, Baek Hwi-young's gaze was now perfectly focused, and he even wore a faint smile from time to time.
His expression clearly said he was fine.
But instinct warned otherwise.
Wasn't there a saying about lunatics with clear eyes?
The face before him fit that description perfectly.
“In-Instructor! Sniff! I-Instructor!”
Before he could dwell on it any further, Miel finally broke into tears. She hurried over, grabbed his hand, and rotated her Gear.
“Hm?”
Startled by her sudden action, Jin Crow almost instinctively reached out to pat her head, but then he realized what Miel's ability was and stopped.
Just as expected.
Once Miel's hand touched him, the strain on his body—which he had been ignoring beneath the pain-relief patches—eased, if only a little. Looking at Miel, whose eyes had reddened to the point they seemed ready to burst as large tears welled up, he absentmindedly stroked her head before turning his gaze toward the cadets.
“We have two choices.”
Facing the eyes fixed upon him, he calmly spoke a cruel truth.
“First, we keep our heads down and hope the 4th Fleet rescues us. However, since all communications have been cut off, we'll have to pray for a miracle. If we're truly unlucky, we'll be rescued by the Empire or the Red Hand instead and become prisoners.”
It was cold, but it was reality.
Naturally, the Federation wouldn't give up on them so easily, but reality wasn't that kind.
“We know.”
“If the Red Hand captures us... It's horrifying just imagining it.”
They had more or less expected that outcome.
Hino Kanae and Beatus nodded.
Satra did as well.
Then, while looking at Miel, who had only just managed to stop crying beneath Jin Crow's hand, Baek Hwi-young spoke to him in a voice full of certainty, as though there was only one possible answer.
“Or we eliminate the cause of this disaster. Am I right, Instructor?”
“……Yeah. That's the right answer.”
The moment he met Baek Hwi-young's eyes, Jin Crow had no choice but to place a Black Star cigarette—one without awakening-drug ingredients—between his lips.
It wasn't because the answer was wrong.
His changed demeanor had gone beyond merely feeling awkward.
It sent chills down his spine.
Apparently, Jin Crow wasn't the only one who felt that way. Standing directly behind him, Famille also stared fixedly at the back of Baek Hwi-young's head before her eyes met Jin Crow's.
“Instru-”
But the very moment Famille was about to say something.
Just as she opened her mouth, a series of shadows fell over their heads, and soon the voices of people fighting among the nearby ruins mixed cheers with relief.
“That's.”
“A ship. But...”
Unlike everyone else's relief, Jin Crow and the cadets' expressions hardened.
Naturally.
The ships that emerged through the Void Fissures were not the angular designs of the Federation.
Every one of them bore the Empire's distinctive, magnificent appearance.
“The Imperial Army.”
As overlapping voices uttered the words, Jin Crow silently tightened his grip on his sword while staring at the fleet.
He didn't know how they had broken through the Void Fissures, but unless they had all gone mad, they would deploy an advance force led by knights rather than attempt a direct landing.
If it was only that much, they could buy enough time.
If necessary, they could even throw Satra to them as a distraction before escaping.
Even while casually entertaining such a horrifying thought—one that would leave the cadets speechless if they heard it—he never took his eyes off the fleet.
〔We are the 52nd Division of the Holy Galactic Empire Army. In accordance with the Rotrivin Accord, we have come to conduct a humanitarian rescue...〕
Just as expected.
The Empire soon broadcast the announcement loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear while opening the assault hatches.
Because of that, just as Jin Crow was about to shout for the cadets to prepare for the clash—
—Noisy.
A chilling voice echoed into everyone's ears at the exact same volume, as though the planet itself had spoken.
The overwhelming pressure that ran down their spines made Jin Crow, Baek Hwi-young, and Satra shout at the same time.
“Get down!”
“W-Waaah!”
“Kyaaaaa!”
Jin Crow pressed Miel's head down, forcing her to crouch where she stood.
Hearing their warning, everyone else instinctively dropped as well.
Then, immediately afterward.
Slice.
The sound of something being cut brushed past everyone's ears.
Slowly raising their heads, they stared at the Imperial fleet suspended in the sky as though time itself had frozen.
“Gasp!”
As though someone's sharp intake of breath had become the trigger, the silence shattered, and a storm swept in.
KWAAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGANG!
Reinforced concrete ruins collapsed. Those still standing were flung in every direction as an overwhelming gale swept across the battlefield, so powerful that vaporized blood from both Creatures and humans rained down like a crimson shower.
“……Hah.”
After taking the full force of it head-on, Jin Crow could only let out a hollow laugh at the sight beyond his disheveled bangs.
RUMBLEEEEE!
BOOOOOOM!
More than ten warships exploded all at once.
Then, beyond the wreckage, the silhouette of a single being appeared.
—Ir... Irregular.
The body, shaped like that of a young boy, oozed thick pus, whether from severe burns or the byproduct of grotesque evolution was impossible to tell.
Flapping the remnants of his half-melted wings, he looked directly at Jin Crow and Baek Hwi-young.
—And... Pil...grim.
Within those words lay hatred, fear, and, beyond that, jealousy born from absolute conviction.
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