Kanata is beginning to be recognized for his role as a staff officer.
It has been a while since the three-act play on the bridge ended, and we are less than an hour away from reaching Beta Street.
Even though we are cheerful ruffians, we regain our composure one hour before sortie.
Just then, a communication enters from Hakuren, the flagship of the Asura Unit.
Shall we listen to the empress’s words, projected on the screen?
“Marika, regarding the situation on Beta Street, Major General Hinckley’s division is fighting hard.”
“It’s meaningless if we win by a landslide but lose on Beta Street, making it one win and one loss. They have to fight hard.”
“The Hinkley Division has already lost one battle before our arrival. If we lose on Beta Street, it will be one win and two losses, putting us at a disadvantage. Major General Hinckley understands this, so he must be desperate.”
“We are desperate too. ‘Desperate’ is written as ‘certainly make the enemy die,’ but still.”
“You’re as dependable as ever. But Major General Hinckley isn’t all bad. The LeBron Division seemed to intend to retreat as soon as they knew they had lost on Alpha Street, but Hinckley, sensing this, launched a counterattack despite being outnumbered, which seems to be preventing their smooth retreat.”
“I see. Kanata, I want to hear your opinion. What do you think of this situation?”
I wish she wouldn’t ask me for my opinion in a situation like this. I’m just a private in the army, a rank-and-file member of the first unit.
Now, let’s use the Rasen-style secret technique, “skillfully escape with a poker face.”
“I’m not in a position to interrupt the Commander and Marika-san’s operational discussions, Your Excellency.”
Even with the Rasen-style secret technique, the empress wouldn’t let me off the hook.
“It’s fine, speak your mind. I’m curious to hear what your natto-bacteria-filled brain thinks of this situation.”
I’m finished. Well then, let’s get the natto bacteria in my brain working at full capacity.
…After that, and this, ah, yes, that’s an option too.
Alright, I’ve roughly figured it out.
“All units arrive at Beta Street as soon as possible. That’s the standard and safest approach.”
The empress’s reply didn’t seem to please her.
“Even a child would know that. Well, there are no secret strategies in this situation.”
“There is room for a secret strategy, though.”
“What, the natto bacteria are working, aren’t they? Go on, tell me.”
“There’s a way to reduce the number of land battleships heading to Beta Street from seven to four. The remaining three can be sent towards the LeBron Division’s retreat route.”
“Kanata, what do you think? We’re fighting a 3600 vs. 1800 battle on Beta Street. There’s a significant difference between going with 700 and going with 400. We might win with 400, but the probability of casualties will be much lower with 700.”
Lieutenant Colonel Kurando agreed with Marika.
“The intention is to win on Beta Street, and then have three units stall the retreating LeBron Division to gain further spoils, but being too greedy rarely leads to good results.”
“Kurando, that’s not it… I see, that’s a viable strategy.”
The Commander seems to have understood my intentions.
“Iska-sama, what do you mean?”
“It’s Kanata’s way of thinking. It’s a bluff, isn’t it, Kanata?”
“Yes, we’ll send only the land battleships towards the retreat route, and the remaining soldiers will board the other four ships. There’s no rule that land battleships must carry soldiers. It will be a bit cramped, but it’s only until we reach Beta Street.”
Marika grinned and said,
“I see. By using three empty land battleships, we’ll threaten LeBron. ‘If you don’t retreat quickly, we’ll interfere with your retreat route, we’ll stall you.'”
“Yes, and if they hurry their retreat in a panic, that’s a bonus. Major General Hinckley said that LeBron is a commander who avoids the front lines. Some commanders lead from the front lines with land battleships, even if they lack combat ability. LeBron, who completely avoids the front lines, seems to be the type who values his own life. He can order his subordinates to die, but he himself doesn’t want to die. Such people are likely to be nervous about securing their retreat route, which directly relates to their safety. They should have already recognized the terror of the Asura Unit, which annihilated our squads.”
“Let’s go with Kanata’s plan. If we advance the fast Shiranui, Sagittarius, and Samidare towards the retreat route, LeBron will try to pull his flagship and its escorting direct units back to safety. It’s a bit of a loss that three land battleships can’t participate in the battle on Beta Street, but the advantage of weakening the LeBron Division, whose commander is directing from a safe zone, is immense. The three ships used for the bluff will quickly turn back and hide, and we’ll strike the Hinkley Division with four land battleships and seven units!”
The Commander’s decision has been made. All that’s left is to act.
Our first unit will be aboard the Commander’s ship, Hakuren.
We moved to Hakuren with our equipment packs, of course, this movement is carried out secretly and swiftly while strictly monitoring our surroundings.
And Hakuren will be overflowing with thugs, as we’ve exceeded its maximum troop capacity.
Shuri and I decided to retreat to the rest area in the corridor.
We bought drinks from the vending machine. I got coffee, and Shuri got tea.
Shuri is a big tea drinker. She’s truly the opposite of me, a coffee drinker, in many ways.
“That was surprising earlier. I don’t remember Natsume willingly joining a conversation.”
“It could be said that Natsume, who normally wouldn’t interject, reacted because the three-act play was so ridiculous. Well, it’s a good thing. Hmm, maybe they won’t chime in next time unless it’s even more ridiculous. We should consider that Natsume has developed resistance to silliness now.”
“…Kanata, I think what you should consider is how to have a natural conversation with Natsume.”
That’s right. The comedian in me couldn’t help but stir.
“Shuri, instead of worrying about Natsume, why don’t you think about Hotaru?”
“…Kanata noticed too? You’re as sharp as ever.”
“I think she doesn’t like me getting along with everyone from the Hidden Fire Village.”
“It seems so. But I can’t support Hotaru right now.”
“Hey, did you two have a fight?”
“It wasn’t a fight. But we had a bit of an argument before the SNC operation began.”
“That’s what you call a fight… Did I cause it?”
“Hotaru said that Kanata always talks about perverted things and is dirty. Certainly, Kanata always says ‘boobs, boobs,’ but if that’s the case, then Mr. Axel is like that too. And lamentably, most of us in the first unit aren’t exactly refined. Isn’t it narrow-minded to say only Kanata is bad…?”
“…And then?”
“…She said it’s okay with everyone else, but she just dislikes Kanata physiologically.”
A cruel truth I didn’t want to hear. “Physiologically dislikes me,” huh? I see. That’s disheartening.
“That’s when I also got emotional. So I said, ‘Then, as Kanata’s friend, don’t you dislike me physiologically too?’ And from there, it got a bit messy.”
“Why are you driving Hotaru, who is already feeling isolated, into a corner? You should have just gone along with it.”
“I can’t say things I don’t mean, especially to a friend.”
She’s more than a friend, isn’t she? Be flexible, just this once.
How unbending and serious can one be?
Our conversation is interrupted by an announcement over the ship’s intercom. It’s time for the fireworks.
“Let’s go, Kanata. First, we have to survive. Everything starts from there.”
“Yeah. I feel sorry for the soldiers of the LeBron Division, but they’ll be the foundation of our future.”
Shuri and I bumped our fists and then headed towards the sortie hatch side by side.
I know it’s not a battle we’ll lose. But even in a victory, casualties occur.
I will definitely survive. I have a reason to live now.
When it comes to conveyor belt sushi, I’m a Kura Sushi fan.
