Mob #110: “Foolish son…”
Whew, that was close.
Since he reacted to the decoy missile before, I thought he might react if I made him overthink it, and he fell for it beautifully.
I wanted to keep him alive to get information, but I didn’t have that luxury.
If I’d tried something like hitting his nozzle to disable him, I would have been shot down instead.
Since he came with killing intent, it’s natural for me to resist with killing intent too.
That said, there should be enough time for him to escape, and it would be dangerous to approach since it’s about to explode.
So I was resigned to him escaping after ejecting, when several beams fired from the direction of the escort ships and instantly detonated the [Blue Hornet], which had a few seconds before explosion.
“[Yahoo! Shot down what looks like a named character! You assisted well, you otaku! I’ll praise you!]”
It was the Bishop Rank mercenary who had previously roughed up Lambert-kun and tried to make Rossweisse-san his woman, along with his entourage.
This kind of thing happened often when I was a rookie.
Sometimes there were even guys who’d claim credit when they hadn’t even fired a shot or even deployed, so this is better than that.
And most importantly, I didn’t want the credit this time, so it worked out perfectly.
Leaving them to their celebration, I decided to head to the aircraft carrier to refuel and rearm.
In the hangar, not only Arthur-kun’s craft but several others were undergoing repairs.
Currently, the transport caravan is completely stopped, using all operational craft for search and rescue of those who managed to eject when shot down, while simultaneously recovering bodies.
Of course, in this case, there’s no distinction between enemy and ally.
After refueling, rearming, and confirming no damage during the craft inspection, I left the aircraft carrier for search and rescue.
That said, we can’t search for dozens of hours, so it was about two hours at most, but we managed to rescue several escapees and recover bodies where remains were found.
While some people were found and rescued this way, others couldn’t even be found as bodies, leaving several empty spaces in the fighter bay.
As long as you live in the mercenary world, this is a daily sight, and I don’t know when I’ll end up on that side either.
Strangely, not a single person from the pirates or Hornet Squadron was rescued.
Furthermore, the bodies had nothing to identify them.
Blue Hornet might be among them, but there’s no way to tell, so I’ll pray for everyone’s peaceful rest.
Though it’s strange for the one who killed them to say that.
After finishing rescue operations and departing again, when I took up guard duty according to the shift, I immediately received a communication from Arthur-kun.
“[Uzoss-san. Could I have a moment?]”
“Hey. You’re not injured or anything? Are you okay?”
Arthur-kun didn’t seem injured, and I could see Seira-jou behind him.
“[I’m fine. But is this okay with you?]”
Arthur-kun asked with a serious expression.
“About the Blue Hornet shoot-down credit?”
“[That’s right. Is it okay? Having your credit arbitrarily treated as an assist and taken away?]”
Arthur-kun’s expression showed clear anger.
Well, normally anyone would be angry if their achievements were stolen.
“It happened often when I was a rookie. Besides, I didn’t want the credit this time.”
After experiencing such unpleasant things over and over, you get used to it.
And this time I have a clear reason for not wanting credit.
Then someone joined the channel.
“[When the military’s involved, you don’t want credit, right?]”
“[I agree. If people like us joined the military, we’d just be used as ‘automatic credit generators’ or ‘invincible meat shields’.]”
“[What’s that supposed to mean?]”
The ones who joined the channel were Dan-san, who’s on the same shift and at the ship’s controls, and Morize, who’s on break.
Arthur-kun was confused, not understanding what they meant.
Arthur-kun might be from Imperial territory.
“You see, people like us from the colonies would be treated roughly and die early if we joined the Imperial military dominated by people from Imperial territories.”
Dan-san, Morize, and I are all from colonies, so we know well what happens to people who join the military or central ministries.
Of course, not everyone suffers terribly, but it’s a fact that the vast majority who do suffer outnumber those who don’t.
“So this time I’m grateful to have the credit taken. Sorry for worrying you.”
Then Seira-jou spoke from behind:
“[That’s why I said not to worry. If he had complaints, he would have protested from the start.]”
“[That does seem to be the case…]”
It seems Seira-jou understands the feelings of us colonials.
Well, Dan-san, Morize, and I all hate the idea of government service, so we’re just being averse to it. There are people from colonies who are active in the military and central ministries too.
“Well, that’s how it is, so don’t worry about it. Besides, there are more flashy people anyway.”
In my field of vision was the craft of Lambert-kun = Rossweisse-san, who had returned after refueling and rearming.
“[He’s amazing, isn’t he…]”
Arthur-kun wore an expression mixed with respect and jealousy.
He’s probably looking at Lambert-kun = Rossweisse-san’s craft displayed on the monitor screen on his ship too.
That expression would definitely make rotten women drool if they saw it.
After repelling the pirates led by the Hornet Squadron, aside from those guys, no one else was making noise, and it was really quiet until shift change.
By the next morning, we arrived at Planet Garostidal, which has a gate that can jump directly to the capital.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT gadgetizedpanda.net
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[Side: Fialka-Tiursad]
After the search and rescue of survivors ended, instead of going to the aircraft carrier where the mercenaries were, I returned to [Ukrimo] and while showering, I was reflecting on my own inadequacy.
I thought my ship piloting skills had improved compared to before.
But what was the reality?
I could certainly defeat the initial attackers without difficulty.
However, once the Hornet Squadron appeared, I was completely on the defensive, and even my counterattacks were easily evaded.
And just like last time, I was chased around by the Hornet Squadron and had to be saved by him, Uzoss, and Dan-Biltrop-san, [Graceful Swallow].
Though Uzoss and Biltrop-san thought it was my strategy, I understood best that I had no such composure at all.
While it could be said that the Hornet Squadron was just that strong, there’s no doubt I was inadequate.
Thinking about how I had said I would beat Uzoss in this state made me feel mortally embarrassed.
And I was incredibly frustrated.
For a while, I quietly showered.
More hot water than usual was flowing from around my eyes.
After getting out of the shower, without asking anything, Sherry said she’d make my favorite pancakes.
And while waiting for the pancakes, using my break time, I steeled myself to speak to a certain person.
“Um, sorry to bother you during work. Could I have a moment?”
“[Hm? You need something from me? Well, if it isn’t the Leopardess lady.]”
The certain person, Dan-Biltrop-san, showed a grinning smile and lightly raised a plastic bottle containing purple liquid.
“Thank you for helping me earlier!”
I bow deeply. If this person and Uzoss hadn’t helped me, I wouldn’t be here now.
But the man himself looked confused for a moment about what I meant, then quickly remembered.
“[Earlier… oh, you mean when I shot down the ones chasing you during the Hornet attack?]”
“You said it was excellent bait work, but… I was really just being chased around! If you hadn’t helped me then, I don’t know what would have happened… Thank you so much!”
I bow again.
Father once told me: “[People naturally bow their heads when they’re truly grateful from the bottom of their hearts.]”
And I could feel that this was exactly such a moment.
Then Biltrop-san showed his teeth in a smile:
“[I see. Even so, don’t worry about it. That kind of thing is give and take. If you’re grateful, next time you help someone else.]”
Biltrop-san said this and drained the contents of his plastic bottle.
“[Well, if you really want to thank me, next time something happens, maybe you could join me for drinks. I can only drink stuff like this during work.]”
The label on the plastic bottle Biltrop-san showed had [Spark Liquid Fruit] series Jewel Grape flavor drawn on it.
“Then I’ll join you if there’s an opportunity. I’m still barely underage, so I’ll accompany you with [Spark Liquid Fruit] Sunshine Orange.”
Then Biltrop-san looked disappointed for a moment:
“[Well, I guess drinking with a beauty is good enough. See you then.]”
“Yes. Until then.”
Saying that, I cut the communication and went to the kitchen, taking [Spark Liquid Fruit] Sunshine Orange from the refrigerator.
I should probably thank Uzoss too, but for some reason I don’t want to, and the pancakes brought before me became more important, so I decided to skip it this time.
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[Side: Tobal-Circleus]
In a room of the Circleus Count family’s main residence on Planet Broslant in Circleus Count territory, Tobal-Circleus faced his elder brother and lord, Figas-Circleus, not as brothers but as lord and retainer.
“Your lordship. I have a report.”
“What is it?”
“The operation with those collaborators failed. Squad leader Tias… has been confirmed shot down.”
“The opponent?”
“Initially he was engaged in dogfighting with Khaki Dust, but after a fierce battle he was hit. There was no follow-up attack from Khaki Dust and there was time to escape, but afterwards someone who cut in from the side delivered the finishing blow.”
“He was slow to escape… I thought I’d told him repeatedly that on the battlefield it’s important to keep an eye on your surroundings and stay alert. If it was mechanical trouble, it couldn’t be helped.”
Even upon hearing of his son’s death, his elder brother didn’t change expression and tilted the whiskey glass in his hand. Tobal also continued his report without changing expression.
“What will you do about the Hornet Squadron?”
“Dissolve the Hornet Squadron and integrate them into the regular army. From now on, have them participate in operations as regular Circleus soldiers.”
“Understood.”
When the report ended:
“Brother. What about avenging Tias?”
Tobal returned to his brotherly face and asked about his beloved nephew.
“Battlefield matters aren’t for revenge. The enemy too fights desperately to avoid being killed. Tias lost in that struggle. That’s all there is to it. Besides, from the enemy’s perspective, we too become the enemy of their beloved ones. Recovery of the body will be impossible, but we must hold a funeral. The cause of death: shot down while fighting pirates.”
“…Understood.”
Without getting agitated at his brother Figas’s matter-of-fact manner of speaking, Tobal left the room.
Just before closing the door:
“Foolish son…”
He didn’t miss the whispered words spoken with downcast head and suppressed voice, nor the water droplet that fell into the whiskey glass.
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