The retreating invading forces were in a state that could accurately be described as a collapse of their front lines, but their command structure had not yet entirely crumbled. The invading commander, judging that the bridgehead could no longer be held, ordered a withdrawal to the sea. Soldiers of the invading force scrambled to board the landing craft, each eager to escape the hand of the demon steadily advancing towards them, step by step. They were unaware that the Reaper was waiting, scythe raised, at their destination.
Tatsuya's feet also stopped before the invading forces, who were too busy fleeing to retaliate. As if suddenly remembering their duty, the Onna Airborne Unit formed a volley-fire formation. But before the order "Fire!" could be given, a "power" that distorted the scenery was unleashed from Tatsuya.
It wasn't that there were no magicians who could release such strong interference, affecting even the field of vision, or light waves. Truly excellent magicians generally didn't use power that disturbed the "world" beyond their intended phenomenon alteration, but talented young magicians who lacked skill relative to their power sometimes unintentionally caused such alterations. However, what occurred here was an entirely physical side effect.
A small assault landing craft, along with the soldiers it had swallowed, vanished into dust. The distorted view was due to the formation of gas from parts of the landing craft diffusing into the air, creating layers of different densities and causing light refraction.
The enemy soldiers, who had been scrambling to board the next craft to escape, all stopped moving. They successively threw their weapons into the sea, and white flags rose. Simultaneously, the naval flag of the Great Asian Alliance was raised, perhaps hoping for legal protection as prisoners of war.
Behind Tatsuya, an order to hold fire was given instead of an order to shoot. Seeing this, Tatsuya aimed his right hand at the flag bearer of the white flag.
"Idiot, stop! The enemy has no intention of continuing combat!"
He didn't need to be told that. His appearance was obscured by the full-face helmet worn by the person who stopped him, but the voice was unfamiliar. It was neither Captain Kazama nor Lieutenant Sanada.
Still, even if Kazama had stopped him, Tatsuya had no intention of ceasing the enemy's annihilation.
"I said stop!"
Suddenly, his vision spun, and he lost the coordinates of his decomposition target. A strong impact to his back—he realized he had been thrown. He immediately tried to get up, only to find himself already pinned down.
"Any more is slaughter. I won't allow such a thing."
A pistol was pressed against the nose of his helmet.
"Calm down, Special Lieutenant. Yanagi, put your gun away too. Special Lieutenant, do you remember the conditions for deployment?"
The voice was familiar, and the title "Special Lieutenant" was also in his memory. And the "conditions" Kazama spoke of were also in Tatsuya's memory. His boiling head cooled slightly; his will to fight remained, but the urge for destruction and slaughter subsided.
"Understood."
Seeing Tatsuya reply and remove his finger from the CAD's trigger, Yanagi released his hold, which had used his hands and knees.
An easing of tension spread not only through Kazama's unit, which was directly engaged in disarmament, but also among the units that had been deployed for interception. While this was understandable to some extent, it was perhaps too soon.
"Command to all units! Unidentified vessels, believed to be a detached fleet of the enemy, approaching from north of Aguni Island! Two high-speed cruisers, four destroyers! Allied interception will not make it in time! Estimated to be within enemy naval gunfire range in twenty minutes! Immediate evacuation from the coastal area is ordered!"
His articulation was somewhat muddled in places, despite the urgency, but it was unavoidable grim news.
"Lend me the communicator."
"Sir!"
The communications officer's reply was unnecessarily loud to Kazama's calm command.
"This is Kazama. Torpedo boats... and anti-ship attack aircraft have no reserves either? What about the prisoners? ...Understood."
Kazama lowered the communicator from his face and took a deep breath.
"In an estimated twelve minutes, this location will be within effective range of enemy naval gunfire! All personnel, escort the prisoners and evacuate inland!"
No anguish or distress was visible on Kazama's face, now that he had removed his helmet. The dignity of a resolute commander forged an iron mask. But it was evident, even without the use of thought-reading magic, that he felt bitter about the order to escort the prisoners.
"Special Lieutenant, you are to return to base first."
The particularly emotionless tone of his brief instruction corroborated Tatsuya's deduction. At least, Tatsuya thought so. Although he used the term "return to base," it meant "flee."
"Do you have the precise location of the enemy cruisers?"
Instead of nodding to Kazama's instruction, Tatsuya, still wearing his helmet, asked this question.
"I do, but... Sanada!"
He didn't ask "Why?" Instead, he called the name of his subordinate carrying the tactical information terminal.
"Linked with maritime radar. Shall I transfer to the Special Lieutenant's visor?"
"Before that."
Tatsuya cut off Sanada's question to Kazama mid-sentence.
"Do you have the armed device with the range extension spell sequence that you showed me the other day?"
Sanada raised his visor and exchanged a look with Kazama. Kazama nodded, and Sanada returned his gaze to Tatsuya.
"It's not here, but it's still in the helicopter, so it'll be here in five minutes."
"Could you bring it immediately?"
Cutting Sanada off, Tatsuya made the request with boyish urgency. Then Tatsuya turned to Kazama, pulled out a wired communication line from his still-concealed helmet, and offered it.
Kazama merely frowned and, without a word, put his helmet back on, similarly pulled out a line, and connected the terminals.
There's a way to destroy the enemy fleet.
The private conversation, initiated in front of subordinates, began with an unexpected bombshell.
However, I'd rather not be seen by your subordinates. Could you leave Lieutenant Sanada's device here and move away from this spot?
Kazama couldn't see Tatsuya's expression. The audio through the wired communication didn't transmit well either. His only clues for judgment were Tatsuya's tone and what he had gleaned from their brief acquaintance.
...Very well. However, Sanada and I will remain.
...Understood.
How will they command the retreating unit? Tatsuya wondered, but quickly reminded himself it wasn't his concern. As Kazama gave the order to retreat and transferred command to the officer named Yanagi, who had just thrown him, Tatsuya simply waited for the armed device to arrive.
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