"How goes it? Have you found the sergeant?"
"No... he's still missing. We found the bodies of the two soldiers who were missing, as well as the military sword the sergeant was using, but the sergeant himself is nowhere to be found."
Following the significant damage inflicted, the Imperial Army withdrew, and as there were no signs of further attacks, Kazuya and his group were engaged in the search for the three missing individuals.
Where could the sergeant be?
I hope he hasn't become a prisoner.
Although the bodies of the two soldiers who went missing shortly after the search began were discovered, the figure of Sergeant Funasaka, who had gone to find them, remained elusive, no matter where they looked.
"There's no helping it; we'll have to call off the search. Let's head back."
While concerned about Sergeant Funasaka's safety, Kazuya decided to terminate the search.
"Hah!"
As Kazuya and his companions abandoned the search for Sergeant Funasaka and returned within the confines of the second defensive wall, they encountered Maria waiting for them.
"Lord Kazuya, Lady Karen is summoning you."
"Ah, understood."
Upon hearing that Karen was calling for him from Maria, Kazuya entrusted Chitose with the task and headed towards Karen's location.
"Hmm... it seems you're unharmed."
"Yeah, I am... But six of my subordinates died, and one is still missing."
"...I see."
Upon entering the room and seeing Kazuya's unscathed appearance, Karen's face lit up with a smile as if a flower had blossomed, ready to address him. However, upon seeing Kazuya's expression, Karen seemed to realize something and composed herself before speaking to him.
"...They're likely to attack again starting from tomorrow. Are you sure you're okay in this condition?"
"I'm fine. But are we safe here in the fortress?"
Attempting to change the subject, Kazuya inquired of Karen, but her expression didn't bode well.
"Frankly, it's tough. We still have some food reserves, but ammunition—gunpowder, bullets, and arrows—are almost depleted... We're grateful for your presence, but without your arrival, the fortress would have likely fallen by now."
"I see. We need reinforcements as soon as possible."
"Yes, indeed..."
After such a bleak conversation about the future, Kazuya left Karen's room after exchanging a few words.
"Welcome back, my lord."
Upon returning to the command post of the elite guard set up in one corner of the castle, Kazuya was awaited by Chitose.
"I'm back. Any reports?"
"Yes. Information from the soldiers left at the mansion has come in; reinforcements from the Canary Kingdom departed yesterday at noon."
"Yesterday at noon, huh... How many? And... will they arrive in time?"
"It seems to be around 25,000. As for whether they'll arrive in time... it's a bit tight time-wise. Also, the casualty report has been compiled; please take a look."
"Yeah... I see. Show me."
Handed several sheets of paper by Chitose, Kazuya glanced over them.
"Out of the total 50 soldiers, six died in battle. One is missing, and as I've treated all the wounded, there are none. Ammunition... will last for one or two more battles... I'm in a bind."
"My lord..."
Seeing Kazuya furrow his brows as he perused the report, Chitose cautiously inquired.
"What is it?"
"As I mentioned earlier, the reinforcements from the Canary Kingdom may not arrive in time. It's risky for us to remain without withdrawing or deploying additional troops."
"...You're right."
Holding back on using our forces further could prove challenging...
But then... if we deploy additional troops, we won't be able to justify ourselves as mere adventurers anymore...
Especially since we're already under suspicion for using modern weapons.
...And it seems there are those sniffing around about us in secret.
"What will you do, my lord?"
"Hmm..."
Mulling it over with a groan, Kazuya was pressed for a decision by Chitose.
"...Understood. Move the ground forces closer to the fortress city, but make sure they remain unnoticed. Also, ensure that each aerial squadron is ready to move out at a moment's notice if given orders."
"Understood. I'll get on it immediately."
With Kazuya's decision to deploy additional troops, preparations for deployment were set in motion at the forward operating base.
The next morning, within the fortress city, soldiers were already on high alert, preparing for potential large-scale magical attacks similar to yesterday's, before the break of dawn.
"...They're not coming."
"Yeah."
However, despite everyone's vigilance, the anticipated attack never materialized, and soldiers stationed at the watchtower began to banter lightly.
Furthermore, there was no movement from the enemy forces, and as the day progressed without incident, everyone began to think that perhaps this day would pass without any trouble.
Clang, clang, clang—the sound of the emergency bell echoing throughout the fortress city interrupted their thoughts.
Upon hearing the bell, Kazuya, who had been in communication with a lookout soldier via radio, inquired of Chitose beside him.
"What's happened?"
"It seems that an aerial fleet and an airborne fortress have appeared in the rear airspace of the enemy forces."
"An aerial fleet and an airborne fortress?"
After hearing the report from Chitose, Kazuya stepped outside from the command post to climb onto the fortress wall and verify the report.
Meanwhile, in the sky fortress suddenly besieged by missile attacks, chaos erupted.
"The Royal Oak, Victory, St. Michael, St. Andrew, Prince, all sunk!! Aelos, Nakima, Quick, flight incapacitated!! Emergency landing imminent!!"
"Expanding damage to our fleet!! ――What!? Our fleet is retreating!!"
"My Lord Renya!! What shall we do!?"
As reports came in of escalating casualties within the aerial fleet and the fleet itself initiating retreat even before receiving orders, Imperial soldiers under Renya's command sought his decision.
"Why are there missiles in this world!? ...Could it be!? Damn it!! We haven't heard of any trippers besides us!!"
However, Renya seemed oblivious to his subordinates' voices, shouting loudly in his own agitation.
"My Lord Renya!? Your orders!! Oh, no!!"
While wasting precious time, multiple missiles struck the magical barrier.
The explosion's shock rattled the sky fortress.
"Anyone who dares to obstruct me will be annihilated!! Prepare the magic cannons for firing!!"
With his blood boiling, rendering him incapable of calm judgment, Renya yelled amidst his rage, his face turning crimson as he spat while speaking.
"M-My Lord Renya!? This is not permissible!! To fire the magic cannons, the magic barrier must be disengaged!! Otherwise, the enemy's attacks will――"
"Silence!! You all just need to shut up and do as I say!!"
"But!!"
"Buts don't mean a damn thing!! This is an order!! Get on with it!!"
"...Understood."
I said I didn't want to do this guy's dirty work!!
Though inwardly cursing the reckless order, the subordinate followed suit as instructed.
As anticipated by the subordinate, the disappearance of the magic barrier left the sky fortress vulnerable, and multiple missiles struck it.
However, as all the missiles that hit were air-to-air, they only caused damage to the fortress's facilities without inflicting fatal harm.
Yet, by sheer coincidence, a missile struck a room atop the sky fortress resembling a castle - near the command room where Renya happened to be. The blast blew out the room's walls, and the force of the explosion raged within.
"Eek!!"
Miraculously unscathed, Renya paled at the sight of a human arm flying towards him in the blast, stumbling backward as he attempted to distance himself from it, shouting,
"R-Retreat!! W-We need to get out of here quickly!!"
"B-But!! If we retreat, the ground forces will――"
"Enough!! Who cares about those on the ground!! Retreat takes precedence over everything!! This is an order!!"
The soldier, battered and bruised, yelled at by Renya, could do naught but comply, facilitating the retreat of the sky fortress.
Consequently, the Imperial ground forces, previously demonstrating overwhelming presence, could only watch in dumbfounded disbelief as the fleet that had been showcasing dominance just minutes before hastily fled, leaving them no choice but to witness its escape.
At that time, within the airborne fortress suddenly besieged by missile attacks, chaos ensued.
"Royal Oak, Victory, Saint Michael, Saint Andrew, Prince, sunk!! Aelos, Nakima, Quick, flight disabled!! Forced landing imminent!!"
"Allied fleet suffering casualties!!――What!? The allied fleet is retreating!!"
"Lord Renya!! What shall we do!?"
Upon receiving reports that the aerial fleet began to retreat before the order was given due to the increasing damage, Imperial soldiers, Renya's subordinates, sought his judgment.
"Why do missiles exist in this world!?... Could it be!? Damn it!! We haven't heard of anyone else but us being Trippers!!"
However, seemingly oblivious to his subordinates' voices, Renya shouted loudly, seemingly in his own world.
"Lord Renya!? Your orders!! Oh, no!!"
While wasting precious time, several missiles hit the magical barrier.
The airborne fortress trembled as explosions shook its structure.
"Anyone who dares to obstruct me will be eradicated!! Prepare the magic cannons!!"
Driven by anger, Renya, with his face flushed crimson, spat out his words furiously, unable to make calm judgments.
"L-Lord Renya!? This is not acceptable!! To fire the magic cannons, the magical barrier must be dispelled!! Otherwise, the enemy's attacks will—"
"Silence!! You all should just shut up and listen to me!!"
"But—"
"But nothing!! This is an order!! Get on with it!!"
"...Understood."
I said I didn't want this; carrying the burden of such a guy!!
Despite inwardly cursing the unreasonable order, the subordinate man moved as instructed.
As expected by the subordinate man, the disappearance of the magical barrier left the airborne fortress vulnerable, and several missiles struck.
However, since all the missiles that hit were air-to-air, they only damaged the fortress's facilities, failing to inflict fatal damage.
Yet, by chance, a missile struck the room adjacent to the command room in the castle-like structure atop the airborne fortress where Renya happened to be. The walls of the room blew out, and blasts swept through the interior.
"Eek!"
Miraculously unharmed, Renya paled as he saw a human arm flying towards him in the blast, stumbling backward in an attempt to distance himself from it.
"W-We need to retreat!! We must, quickly, get out of here!!"
"B-But!! If we retreat, the ground forces—"
"Enough!! We don't give a damn about those ground dwellers!! Just retreat faster than anything!! This is an order!!"
The soldier, battered and bruised, shouted at by Renya, had no choice but to evacuate the airborne fortress.
As a result, the Imperial ground forces, which had displayed overwhelming presence just minutes ago, could only watch in stunned silence as the fleet that had dominated the skies hastily departed.