Ch.149

Do not forget the very magnificent that has always existed in ourselves.

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"──Tch! Summoning up to Tyrant-class...?"

For the purpose of gathering enemy units, did Shuen's pre-sent calling signal exhibit more than anticipated effects, or was it due to discovering a rampaging group beyond expectations?

In any case, it was the troublesome appearance of formidable enemy units. No individual among the Tyrant class encountered so far has been anything but troublesome.

This happened just as the Rapture's large group began a full-scale offensive, thwarted by a fierce onslaught of gunfire to crush their advance.

Suddenly, as if the vast horde of Rapture had receded from the earth, a colossal shadow on the horizon caught their attention.

"──Rapi! What is that!?"

"──Codename Stormbringer!"

"──A lot of unwanted guests! Even though we didn't ask for a storm!"

"──Hurry over here! I'll provide support!"

Taking cover behind the wreckage of a rust-covered armored vehicle, Moore, about seven meters away, shields himself, and inquires to Rapi, concealed within the large funnel-shaped crater, about the true identity of the enemy aircraft.

Amidst Moore's frustrated sigh, Rapi urges him to come closer. It is wise to follow the advice of an excellent leader.

Even though the enemy aircraft group has withdrawn, the vigilance doesn't waver. She grips her assault rifle, pointing it in the direction from which the Rapture's large group retreated, and he, finally, starts moving.

"──Laplace, let's go!"

While still holding his pistol, Moore calls out to Laplace, hidden behind him. Grabbing Laplace's arm with his left hand, Moore starts running.

Closing the distance of about seven meters in one go, he jumps alongside Rapi with Laplace, finally releasing the arm he had been holding and gripping the assault rifle with both hands.

"──Hehehe, kill them all."

──Who was that just now?

In the midst of the large hole pierced by the incoming shells, a slightly unsettling voice passed through his headset, resonating through his eardrums as he checked the remaining ammunition in the magazine.

"Probably Drake."

"...Seems like she's quite close."

Judging from the deep vertical furrow on his forehead, he seemed to have sensed something. Rapi also removes the magazine from her assault rifle, checks the remaining bullets, and informs Moore about the owner of the voice from earlier.

Knowing that he is still alive, he breathes a sigh of relief and then aims his gun at the enemy─the enemy aircraft approaching like a mysterious bird in flight.

As preparations for the engagement were completed, Moore reached for the microphone on his headset, a smile forming on his lips.

"──It's Moore. I still believe everyone is in good shape, but despite the circumstances, a Tyrant-class has appeared. Well, you probably already guessed that."

〈──Yeah, I can see it well. What's the plan, Baby? Retreat?〉

The communication came from Maxwell, causing vibrations in the housing. Moore, exhaling a sigh lightly, continued to approach the bird-like creature, peering through the optical sight to grasp the characteristics of the approaching mysterious bird.

"──We've practically lost air superiority. Retreating would only get us caught. We'll engage here and defeat that bird bastard."

〈──Defeat it, huh? Are you confident you'll win?〉

The battlefield, and by extension, the war itself, is unpredictable.

Fate ─ though he didn't want to use that word, it accurately described the unfolding events and the easily changing situation on the battlefield.

Regardless of how much simulation is done, the outcome of victory or defeat remains unknown until it actually happens.

But when asked about his confidence ─

"──I've never fought with the assumption of a miserable defeat. I am confident in winning. Besides..."

〈──Besides?〉

"──Because a Hero is by my side."

As Moore directed his gaze from the mechanical right eye, peering through the optical sight, toward the side, he saw Laplace gripping the pistol tightly with both hands.

She must have realized that she was being stared at with intense brown eyes. Tension, confusion, and an effort to suppress fear tightened her expression as she repeated rough breaths.

〈──I see. Understood. I'll send a drone for filming now.〉

"──Roger. ...I almost forgot the purpose of coming here."

With too much happening, he was on the verge of losing sight of the righteous cause of saving the Metis squad exposed to the danger of memory erasure. There was also the purpose of relieving unnecessary tension before the engagement. Whether it was his true feelings or a joke, it was hard to judge, but as Moore muttered it towards the microphone, laughter from Maxwell and others echoed one after another from within the housing.

Even beside him, unusually, Rapi wore a faint smile at his banter, loosening her expression. Catching that at the edge of his field of vision, he lightly tapped her back with one arm.

"Is everything ready?"

"Completed."

"Good."

〈──Baby, can I talk to you for a moment?〉

"What's up?"

Responding promptly to Maxwell's communication, Moore noticed Rapi looking puzzled. It seemed Maxwell was communicating with him alone.

〈──Stormbringer is quite a troublesome one even among the Tyrants, so we might not be able to protect you guys with ease. When it gets dangerous, protect yourself.〉

"──Don't worry. It's business as usual."

Whether it was a concern or a warning, Maxwell conveyed the message to him, telling him to protect his own life and body. Moore responded that such worries were unnecessary.

Rather, it was almost as if to say, "As always."

Just as it had been before, it would likely continue to be the same in the future.

For what reason was he holding the assault rifle designed for Nikke, for countering the Rapture? Needless to say, it was for engaging in gunfire with the Rapture and bringing them down.

〈──Yeah, that's right. It was like that. But... I hate to say this, but...〉

"──Tell me the truth. Well, as much as time allows."

He intended to endure even insults such as a frail human compared to Nikke spouting words. That was an undeniable fact.

However, despite seeming to have time, in reality, there were only a few minutes left until contact and engagement with the bird-like creature, Stormbringer.

Encouraging Maxwell to convey it briefly, she let out a breath, calming herself, from within the housing.

〈──For Baby's sake... If things look bad, I want you to make the call to escape on your own. You know what I mean, right?〉

"──Negative. Rejecting retreat is not a hobby of mine. And I don't want to leave behind important subordinates and run away by myself."

〈──Don't be so stubborn. I just don't want Baby to die.〉

"──...Is that because of the absolute protection of the commander? Rest assured. Even if he dies, you won't be held accountable; it'll be considered an intricately planned suicide, given the broad interpretation."

──How slow and dense can he be...

Maxwell likely felt the urge to sigh inwardly at his response.

Of course, the continued interest as an experimental subject ─ the so-called experimental guinea pig ─ was one reason. If Baby were to die unceremoniously, the planned experiments she had for the future would be in vain.

Apart from that, she seemed to be disappointed that he didn't notice how far she had gone. Was it necessary to vocalize it for him to understand the delicate thoughts of a maiden?

"──But I appreciate the warning. I'll make sure not to overlook the retreat. If things get dangerous, I'll carry Rapi and Laplace and ask for support while escaping."

〈──Can you do that?〉

"──Can't I? Also... it's about time to use it. Once I give the signal, detonate it immediately."

〈──What if it doesn't detonate properly?〉

"──We'll deal with it when the time comes."

God knows best, as they say. However, the mood and temperament of the explosive-filled in 155mm shell would depend on its whims and determination. The fuse was something Maxwell had improvised with the materials at hand.

Even if detonation fails, the entire firepower of the Metis Squad and the Counters Squad will be concentrated to forcefully bring down that bird onto the ground.

There's no need to overthink it. While telling himself that, Moore ended the communication.

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In contact with the kaiju-like bird, Stormbringer, and concentrating all firepower on the airborne enemy, he candidly expressed his impression of the Tyrant class.

"──Hah. Quite hollow."

The wings would be dozens of meters in length. It seemed that each Tyrant-class had a bizarre form as a rule.

According to scholars, avian skeletons have evolved in the direction of "maintaining strength while reducing weight." A somewhat straightforward expression would be "empty and light."

Although there seemed to be structures mimicking feathers, in Moore's eyes, it looked like an abnormally large avian skeleton flying with its intent only.

"Reload!"

"I've got you covered!"

Clank. As the vibration signaling an empty magazine passed through his hands, Moore declared a magazine change and reached for his pouch. During this time, while Rapi deployed a barrage to prevent attacks from concentrating on him, Laplace, gripping the pistol, hunched her back, trembling.

"──Rapi, aim for the gun turret at the base of the wings!!"

Pale purple energy bullets were fired, showering down as point-blank shots near the hole where they were taking cover.

Lumps of lifted earth and sand fell overhead, but without flinching, Moore looked through the ACOG and added gunfire to the gun turret of the bird-like creature he captured in the reticle.

As the gun turret's barrel moved, and the moment they felt it was directed towards them, Moore and Rapi bent down.

"──Laplace!"

Rapi shouted a warning to the delayed Laplace. However, she wasn't in a state to respond promptly.

Moore reflexively raised his upper body, and in the instant, he extended one arm to pull Laplace towards him, a shot passed right above, hitting behind them.

Whether the sound of melting occurred first or the earth and sand scattered due to the impact first was unclear.

"──Tsk! Hot!!"

His scalp became so hot that he couldn't help but scream. Moore quickly threw away the helmet he had on.

It was likely due to the effect of the energy bullets barely skimming past. His scalp seemed to be melting.

"Commander!"

"I'm okay!"

Strangely, not even his hair was scorched. It truly was a close call. Just to be sure, he touched his own head to confirm, feeling the hard sensation of the headset's headband. It seemed like it hadn't melted either.

Laplace took cover beside Moore, with dirt and debris accumulating on her hood. However, she didn't seem to be swatting it away, perhaps due to fear causing her to freeze.

Thinking that it's fine as long as she's not screaming, Moore re-gripped his assault rifle and aimed the barrel at the soaring bird with ease.

"Rapi, prepare a grenade! Aim for the left gun turret as we advance!!"

"Roger!"

Responding quickly to his command, Rapi attached one of the hanging grenades to the launcher under the assault rifle.

Next to her, Moore slid the barrel of the grenade launcher and loaded a grenade into the chamber.

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"─ Fire!"

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With the sights aligned, both triggers were pulled almost simultaneously.

With a whooshing sound and the release of pressure, two grenades spread out to the left and right, aiming for the base of the wings where the gun turrets were located, releasing energy bullets toward the ground.

The explosions were nearly simultaneous.

With the explosions, shell casings scattered, and the gun turret's control seemed to malfunction, causing the barrage of energy bullets to suddenly stop.

Not only that, but by attacking the base, the altitude of the bird gradually started to decrease.

Moreover, by sheer luck──

"─ Maxwell!!"

Moore wouldn't overlook that.

Moore sharply ordered into the headset's microphone. Recognizing it as a signal, Maxwell improvised a makeshift detonator and tapped a button on the liquid crystal screen of the mobile device she pulled out.

──The signal was sent.

The antenna of the detonator that correctly received the signal immediately started working.

Maxwell's improvised detonator's firing pin dropped, hitting the primer. The primer ignited the blasting charge. The flame traveled through the fire channel, igniting the blasting charge, booster charge, and then the main explosive charge, releasing shockwaves and high-speed fragments.

The shockwaves and high-speed fragments generated by the detonator reached the explosives that had been patiently waiting for decades inside the shell, melting away in eager anticipation.

"Get down!!"

As Moore covered Laplace, who was crouching, a moment passed before the earth-shaking shockwaves and the delayed roar that could damage the auditory system came.

Feeling as if the earth might split open, Moore raised his head, despite the situation where debris and rusted iron pieces rained down with the dirt.

──Heh. How does it feel to be hit by the direct force from below?

He couldn't help but lift the corners of his mouth so much that it seemed like it might tear his ears.

The landmines repurposed from 155mm shells stored in the ammunition depot amounted to a total of 25 rounds. Fortunately, all of them detonated successfully.

However, for the monstrous bird, it was nothing but misfortune.

As the altitude dropped, shell casings and debris of various sizes, along with rusted armor fragments, spewed up from directly below in the blast. Moreover, it was the debris from all 25 rounds.

Despite the unconventional use, the aircraft structure was as flimsy as it appeared. It couldn't withstand a direct hit.

Seeing the enemy aircraft, with one wing blown off, awkwardly falling to the ground and struggling, Moore gave orders to both squads to finish off the monster bird.

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"No... you did well to take that down."

"Yeah, Maxwell. It's thanks to you as well. I appreciate it again."

"Hey...! Stop... so suddenly..."

The assault rifle barrel seemed to have heated up from firing bullets.

When Moore and Rapi emerged from the hole, the massive bird lay motionless, exposing its colossal body in a pitiful state.

Unconsciously holding a cigarette in his mouth, Moore had been lent a turbo lighter by her, while Drake, Anise, and Neon joined them.

"Damn, thought I was gonna die."

"It was tough, but it was good to be able to use firepower to the fullest."

"...Looks like it was tough on your end too."

"Well, yeah... You're a bit dirty, you know?"

"...Huh? Oh, sorry."

Covered in dirt multiple times, he had lightly brushed it off with his hands, but it seemed he hadn't completely removed it.

While Anis, wearing fingerless gloves, swept Moore's body armor shoulders with her hand, he, Rapi, and Laplace crawled out of the hole.

In Laplace's hand, she still gripped the pistol, but there was no trace of the gunpowder smell from firing.

"...I couldn't do anything until the end..."

Not a single shot was fired.

She just trembled, overwhelmed by fear, her arms pulled, and protected.

"In the end, I... can't do anything without NIMPH."

----It seems I was this weak. I can only feel that fact slammed through me mercilessly.

----Up until now, I have only seen myself as someone who should protect someone. ...but I have been protected by humans whom I regarded as objects to be protected. Pulled along, guided, and shielded multiple times.

Among them, the weakest and the one being a hindrance is---

"...The useless one is me..."

--It looks like the sign of PTSD occurred again.

Maxwell, with a rather pessimistic personality now, shrugs her shoulders with a sigh.

Being quiet is fine, but this is quite a complicated situation in itself.

Nevertheless, the footage of defeating the Tyrant class was solidly captured by drones. The achievements are sufficient.

Speaking of which, she is relieved that the immediate direct crisis seems to have passed, but Drake, standing beside her, is not in good shape.

"What's wrong, Drake? Why do you look so serious again? It's all over."

"---Maxwell. Something's not right."

She, with her crimson eyes swiftly glancing left and right, re-gripped the shotgun in her hand.

"--My body still... tingles."

"What are you talking about?" As Maxwell tries to ask, the sound of the safety mechanism being released resonates loudly.

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"--Numerous enemy units ahead!"

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Twenty-five shells explode underground, and beyond the wreckage of the fallen mysterious bird on the uneven terrain, Moore, who captured numerous somethings squirming, spits out the cigarette he was holding in his mouth and verbally issues a warning.

At the same time, armed with assault rifles, pulling the trigger, tracer rounds streaking through the light, amidst the crowded and squirming flock of enemy aircraft, they are drawn in.

"--More!?... that many...!?"

"--Raptures...!?"

The Tyrant-class has been defeated. Even though it would be fine for the gathered flock of enemy units to disperse, he acknowledges that a full-scale artillery fire has started from the Rapture swarm as he exchanges the empty magazine for a fresh one.

"--Disperse! Don't cluster! Spread out! Laprace, over here! Come!"

In the scene before him, with a mixture of old models, and enemy aircraft firing physical and light bullets, Laprace, rattling her teeth, freezes at the sight of the Rapture swarm advancing, actively firing both artillery and shots.

Grabbing her slender arm and dragging her, Moore jumped into the hole he had been hiding in until a moment ago. He took a defensive stance, lying on his stomach, and aimed the barrel of his assault rifle toward the enemy, pulling the trigger.

"─Rapi! ... Ah, hope she's somewhere else safe. I hope Anis and Neon are safe too..."

Although he jumped to the nearest location, given the order to disperse, both squads would have scattered.

Normally, he would have given instructions to fire grenades at her, who is undoubtedly usually by his side. However, realizing she's not there, Moore sighed and loaded a grenade into the launcher attached to the bottom of his own assault rifle instead.

He aimed the launcher at the swarm of enemy aircraft and pulled the trigger. The grenades, flying in a loose arc, eventually exploded simultaneously with the impact, destroying several Raptures, but in terms of total numbers, it would have caused only minimal damage.

"─Die... die... we're going to die...!"

"─Don't worry, Laprace! Everyone dies at some point!"

Even if he were to die here, it wouldn't be a lonely death.

He intended to make such a light-hearted remark, but seeing the pale side profile of Laprace, even he was speechless.

Around him, the familiar sounds of gunfire and shots began to echo. The sound of the return fire seemed to reassure everyone, and Moore felt an inexplicable relief, even though they were right in the middle of a battlefield. Suddenly, a sharp sonic boom sounded overhead.

"─Laprace!!"

It wasn't the prolonged sound of gunfire; it seemed like the falling noise of a shell. Sensing it would hit very close, Moore covered Laprace next to him just in time for the moment the shell fell into the hole.

With a thunderous roar and the shockwave of the explosion, both he and Laprace were blown away.

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"─Hah... Hah...!"

Thrown and realizing he had rolled onto the ground, pain raced through Moore's entire body.

It wasn't just because he forcefully hit the ground.

"Ca-Captain...!"

Far from heroic behavior, on all fours, Laprace hurriedly ran towards him. Seeing the fragments of enemy bullets embedded all over her body, her face turned pale.

"...Damn it...! it's hard to speak...!"

Fragments of a shell were embedded in his cheek, piercing through to his oral cavity.

Grabbing them with his fingertips, Moore forcefully pulled out the fragments, throwing them aside. Immediately, he spat out blood-mixed saliva, stood up, and took a kneeling position, shielding Laprace on his back. 

"Why... why for someone like me...!"

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She's useless─

Not a hero──

Why, how──

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"─Commander!!"

"─Rapi, get out of the way!!"

"─Anis!!"

"─Fall back! Rapi, Maxwell! Lower the squads! Hurry!!"

The finger remains on the trigger.

Bullets are continuously fired as the firing pins strike the primers in the chambers one after another, shooting out and piercing through enemy aircraft, but it's still not enough.

"Laprace, retreat!!"

Realizing the unfavorable situation, Moore stands up. Lowering his center of gravity, he aims the gun at the approaching swarm of enemy aircraft, firing shots while beginning to retreat with her shielded on his back, but─

"─Guh!?"

"─Captain!?"

One shot of a light bullet burns through the charred mechanical left arm from the elbow down.

There's no pain, but at the moment the gunfire stops due to the impact of being hit, the enemy aircraft's artillery fire concentrates.

"─Fall back! Laprace, fall back!!"

Losing the left forearm is a bit troublesome. However, it can be said that it only slightly hinders the return fire.

He wedges the butt of the assault rifle into his right side and showers gunfire in a position similar to shooting from the hip.

Throughout his body, various-sized fragments pierce his lower limbs, which are not protected by body armor, and blood is constantly flowing down.

While retreating, a grenade, likely launched by the enemy aircraft, explodes right in front of Moore's eyes.

At the moment of the explosion, several large fragments of the shell casing are created, and one of them pierces through his abdomen, penetrating the ceramic plate and sticking into his stomach.

Thrown back again by the shock of the explosion, Moore falls backward, still lying on his back, with Lapras, who shielded his back, pinned underneath.

"─... Captain...!... Blood...!!"

"─...Calm down... It's... al...ways... like... this... Seems I won't be allowed to die from something like this..."

Laprace, who was bathed in the flowing blood, trembles, possibly because she became his support. It should be a fatal wound already.

Even though he should be unable to move anymore, Moore tries to stand up. He's trying to keep fighting.

"─Why...!!"

"─Don't... want... to lose... that's why... and... I... can't do anything else... as an ordinary person who's not a hero but risks his life for his subordinates...!"

With his left arm partially burnt and an unsteady balance, he still manages to rise.

Sitting down on the spot, amidst rough breaths, Moore releases his right hand from the grip of the assault rifle. He directs it towards the pouch on his body armor.

Glancing at the single needle-less syringe he pulls out from there, Moore presses the button injecting the substance into his own neck without much care.

"─...!"

A slight pain, and a significant discomfort as something enters his body. He furrows his brow at the sensation.

Once the substance in the ampule is depleted, he throws away the injected syringe.

"─Haa... haa──Haahaa... Hahaha!"

Gradually, his mouth corners loosen.

His mouth corners pull up so much that it feels like they might tear, and his natural eye begins to redden.

The feeling of exhilaration─or perhaps excitement─makes him unable to stop laughing, and the pain that had been gnawing at his entire body begins to fade.

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"──Kill─"

"──Crush─"

"──Fight─"

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A series of echoing words in his mind.

Driven by the command to kill and exterminate the approaching group of hated enemies, he feels propelled forward. His body, which should have been so heavy just a moment ago, now feels surprisingly light.

With a bit of tension in his muscles, making them creak, Moore easily stood up.

Indeed, steam rises from his body, indicating how much body heat he must be emitting.

Staring in disbelief at Moore, who, despite his seemingly half-dead state, stands up, spreading a mix of determination and hostility throughout his entire body, Lapras directs her gaze at him. He looks over his shoulder, his right eye replaced by a mechanical eye.

"─Laprace."

"...Captain...?"

"─Anyone can become a hero. Everyone knows how to, including you."

──Yet, there are few heroes because, in extreme situations, they can't execute the way they know they should.

In a calm tone, as the swarm of enemy aircraft approaches, he speaks to Laprace.

"─Envision your ideal. If you show actions and courage that match that ideal, people will call you a hero."

Despite the gruesome condition of his left arm and entire body, he charges forward with a determined will to resist. That is, right into the midst of the approaching enemy aircraft.

With thunderous shouts and cries, pulling the trigger of the assault rifle held only by his right arm, Moore charges into the flock of enemy aircraft.

There was no time for Laprace to stop him.

In the next moment, when she strongly closed her eyes as if wanting to cover them, a tremendous impact sound echoed.

Instinctively, she opened her eyes and lifted her face.

In the direction of her gaze, there was the sight of one approaching Rapture soaring in mid-air, its armored core, like a menacing red single eye, still suspended in a crumpled state. Not only Laprace but also the other Raptures froze, as if experiencing a system error, questioning if the scene in front of them was real.

"─After all, just machines. They probably have no concept of death. If they lack self-awareness, death itself shouldn't be frightening. ---But what about me?"

As the kicked Rapture rolled over the ground, involving several others, he approached a nearby enemy aircraft and delivered three short bursts from point-blank range. Immediately, the bolt stopped and made a clicking sound.

However, it was not over. Hanging the assault rifle itself on a sling while hanging three bullet marks on the armor, Moore, with the rifle hanging from his shoulder, thrust his clenched fist, formed with his right hand, into the center of the three bullet marks pierced into the armor.

The armor was penetrated, and Moore's rigid and tense right arm entered the enemy aircraft. Gripping what seemed to be a thick cable, he forcibly dragged it out of the enemy aircraft.

With a forceful tear, he severed the cable pulled out to the exterior, and an enormous amount of pitch-black catalyst stained Moore, much like the spray of blood.

After tearing the cable and convulsing the body, the Rapture lost its light from the core and ceased to function. Covered in the splattered blood turned black, Moore turned his shining eyes towards the surrounding enemy aircraft, and a disturbance ran through the flock of Raptures.

"What's the matter? Are you scared? It's quite commendable for machines."

The Raptures, facing a human, trembles in front of him.

As he takes a step, letting fresh blood drip to the ground, the swarm of enemy aircraft takes a step back.

In this surreal scene—or perhaps, witnessing a figure too majestic— a verse from a poem emerges in Lapras's mind:

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"Finds, and shall find, me unafraid."

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Inspired by this moment, Laprace, who was almost turning on her heels to flee from the torment of fear, gathers strength throughout her entire body and forces herself to stand firm.

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The greatest glory in living

does not lie in never falling,

but in rising every time we fall.

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The poem he taught her rekindled a heart that was on the verge of breaking, and the words of someone who stood up for freedom and equality ignited a fire in Laprace's heart.

That fire may be delicate and unreliable. However, the fire has undeniably been lit.

──Anyone can become a hero. The way to become one is known by all.

──Envision your ideal self. If you demonstrate actions and courage in line with that ideal, people will call you a hero.

Unconsciously shedding the hood that concealed her timid self, the girl with flowing blonde hair revealed her deep blue eyes reflecting the battered back of a man.

Without fearing anything, never yielding, the strength she wields is for someone else──

"──You said anyone can become a hero. ...Perhaps you are the real hero, Captain."

If she were to say something like that, surely he would respond with a wry smile, dismissing it as a misunderstanding. Strangely, Laprace could vividly imagine that reaction.

But he──no matter what anyone says!──

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"──Armament, deploy...!"

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Applying force to the clenched pistol, regulating her breathing.

The abilities that had been inactive until then──started to assist Laprace in transforming into the ideal figure she aspired to be.

Her face was covered with a protector, and her entire body was clad in armor, a large launcher was now gripped in her hands.

Pointing the muzzle towards the swarm of enemy aircraft and initiating the charge, a pale spark began to run.

"──Captain!"

Before Laprace could warn him to avoid the line of fire, he had already leaped into the gaping hole pierced by the explosion of a 155mm shell.

The moment she acknowledged this, she pressed the firing button.

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*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

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A pale, thick light beam, piercing through the ground, instantly closed the distance between them and the swarm of enemy aircraft, within the span of a moment. In that beam, countless Raptures disappeared and burst.

The swarm of enemy aircraft was literally mowed down.

The battlefield-turned-wasteland was covered in the smell of burnt wreckage and iron, and when Lapras acknowledged the sweep of the enemy aircraft, she finally deactivated the armed deployment.

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"And I, too---am a hero."

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Author: I apologize for the wait.

I'm glad to hear that I've recovered from COVID-19. Everyone, Please remember to take it easy and prioritize your health. If you have any other requests or questions, feel free to let me know!