Royal Capital.
A tavern near the East Gate.
“Hey, someone who just returned said— *hic* ///”
“Huh? /// Ah, I know what you mean~~~ ///♪”
“You mean the guy who went to the battlefield alone again, right? ♪”
“Yeah, that’s the one! *Gulp, gulp* Ahhh, that hits the spot~~~ ///♪ More ale! ♪!”
“Coming right up.”
*Hubbub!* *Heheh* ♪! *Wahahaha* ♪!
The remaining soldiers who returned with Gira and the others.
They were surrounded by drunks and information brokers.
“The food and drinks are free. We can even get you women too ♪?”
They readily sat down.
And the tavern erupted in laughter.
“Brother, you had quite the ordeal, didn’t you? ♪///”
“If you were like us, working at a factory ♪? You wouldn’t have faced such a deathly experience. *Gulp, gulp*…”
*Puhaaa.*
The remaining soldiers coughed, reeking of alcohol.
The attendant, like motherly figure, brought them more food and drinks.
“You guys should pace yourselves a little ♪”
“““Right~~~ ///”””
The lone figure rumored in the tavern.
Suurl.
Frustrated by Patch’s scolding, he fully engaged the support device (main thruster) of his exclusive machine, [Idaten].
He tore through the great street of the Royal Capital.
By the time he reached the outskirts, he was at maximum speed.
The G-force on the cockpit was immense.
But Suurl was a man who lived in that G-force domain.
He didn’t care, smiling as he raced across the land.
He carved a trail with the shockwaves of his passing.
<“Ughhhhooooraaaa”>
*Flicker, flicker.*
A warning light illuminated, indicating that maintaining his possessed magic power was impossible.
“Tch.”
He was in such a good mood.
Everyone… why do they always—
Suurl’s frustration returned.
But [Idaten]’s performance would plummet if he continued like this.
It wasn’t ideal to be seen in such a state, nor to be attacked by medium-sized monsters.
He changed course towards the Royal Capital.
He returned, flying the support device at a moderate pace.
When he realized it, night had already fallen.
*Gyahahaha* ♪♪
The lone figure returned.
Jeers and scorn from the guys and drunks flew around.
“……I’m going to kill them all……”
He suppressed the urge to fire magic bullets and headed for his private hangar.
“Welcome back, Lord Suurl.”
“Yeah.”
The maintenance squad leaders greeted him.
Suurl responded briefly and headed to his room.
“Lord Suurl ♡”
His nighttime companion greeted him with a smile.
Suurl had conditions for his nighttime companions.
They must have experience with things related to speed, such as horse riding, juggling, or darts.
Alternatively, they must possess knowledge related to speed.
If either were true, they would wait in his room.
Suurl was an important figure.
Moreover, he was still climbing the ladder of the advancement race.
He couldn’t just end with a one-night memory.
His goal was to become the legal wife, bearing a son.
And to secure Suurl’s side.
Tōyashi, who was furious.
In the basement of a large merchant guild.
Tōyashi, who had been lectured from above by Patch.
An important figure, on par with him.
“That guy~~!”
*Juu*
“Ughyaaaaaaa!”
He tormented a scumbag chosen to vent his frustrations on, using a cursed weapon obtained with money and threats.
The cursed weapon was less about lethality and more about inflicting intense pain upon contact.
*Sssu*
“N-no, gyagyaaaaaaa!”
“Lord Tōyashi, Lord Tōyashi.”
“What is it?”
A man to whom he had entrusted his business appeared, despite the late hour.
“Tch, I’ll deal with it tomorrow.”
……*Hoo.*
“You just sighed in relief, didn’t you?”
“……I-I did…”
*Zuburi!*
“Gah!?”
“Dispose of this guy.”
“Yes, immediately. Someone!?”
““Yes, yes.””
He pulled the cursed weapon from the scumbag whose stomach he had pierced from below and to the left, and handed it to the man before heading to his room.
He drank alcohol like water and drifted into dreams.
Zappa, who got revenge on Patch in his dreams after being scolded.
The barracks of a high-ranking officer.
A corner room, formerly a storage closet.
“I want to drink some alcohol…”
He woke up. He couldn’t go back to sleep.
Although he held the position of assistant squad leader, his past failures during his time as an important figure continued to make him disliked by his colleagues and superiors.
His salary was the same as a regular soldier’s.
If he bought alcohol, he would go hungry until the next payday.
Meals were rationed, but the portions were deliberately small as a form of harassment.
“I wonder if I can find some money…”
Zappa headed out to the entertainment district at night.
Looking for money dropped by drunks.
Patch, who had lectured four people.
He received a communication from Brain, who was piloting [Alexy], which had departed from the Royal Capital.
<“Several prisoners will be mailed to you in a few days. I must remain vigilant in the surrounding area. Please advise King His Majesty to implement an information blockade to prevent accidental firing.”>
“Understood. Lord Brain, you are truly remarkable.”
This was a great achievement.
He was rumored to be His Majesty’s hidden ace, and indeed he was. While our eyes were focused to the east, he instantly annihilated another force that attacked from the west, across the sea.
He also captured women to present to His Majesty.
Truly, there are no words other than remarkable.
“Please be careful on your journey.”
<“Yeah, communication terminated.”>
*Click.*
Patch breathed a sigh of relief after Brain’s communication ended.
His next task was to visit Gila, who was confined in a private room after exposing his embarrassing… dark history on the great street.
“Feeling better?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
Gila, too, admitted he had gone too far.
Patch also reflected that he had gotten a bit too carried away.
They went back and forth, exchanging reflections and apologies, and reconciled.
Opening an aged bottle in a separate room, they toasted their successful reconciliation.
*Clink!* *Glug glug…* *Puhaa* ♪
“I’ll end this war with the next one ♪”
“Stop it. You’re not going to the front lines anymore, understand?”
“I’m still active.”
“Even if you’re active, you’ll be in rear support.”
“Is that okay?”
“It’s not okay.”
Their glasses became empty.
As they refilled each other’s glasses, they exchanged opinions.
*Knock, knock.*
“Director, may I speak with you?”
“Ah, what is it.”
“If there’s a problem, I’ll handle it ♪”
“That’s why you’re in rear support.”
The report was from the west.
It stated that a large-scale magic power reaction was heading their way.
“That’s the reaction from the Unmanned Machine [Alexy] series. There’s no problem. Thank you for your report.”
“Tch, what’s this, what’s this. It’s not a problem?”
“Yes, apologies.”
Gila was disappointed that it wasn’t an opportunity to sortie.
Dejectedly, he swallowed a few gold coins worth of alcohol.
“Don’t drink it all yourself.”
“Then you drink too, here.”
*Tok, tok, tok…*
The glass was filled to the brim.
“Whoops.”
*Glug glug, Fuuuu, delicious* ♪!
