Story Reader / Interlude / The Land of the Fallen Star / Story
???
I was going to make the introduction myself. How rude of me.
Why...?!
I just wanted to tell everyone the truth.
The truth?
Warning. Radar waveform detected.
Wait!!!
All the truth, pedantic, dirty, hypocritical truth... Right here!
Warning. Warning. Main wings damaged. Fuel leaking!
What are you planning, Cyril?!
(Dammit! I can't stop him if I don't attack!!)
Watanabe, do you think they can be forgiven?
What...
You watched my son die in front of you. Aren't you his best friend? Aren't you going to fight for him? Can you forgive these bastards?
You saw that list! They're trying to flee into space, leaving the soldiers—who are fighting with their lives—behind to die! No honor, no graves!
Can you forgive those liars?!!
Out of my way! I will reveal their dirty deeds and show the truth to everyone!
...
I can.
Watanabe's voice feels like fuel and lubricating oil. He shouted with unrestricted anger.
You are not the only one who lost someone important!
I have never forgotten Bruce!! And my other brothers in arms! I remember them, every single one of them!
January 22nd, 2161. The northern defense was breached by Corrupted due to a mistake of the local army. Mercenary squad "Oasis" was hired to make up for the lack of troops.
Oasis Squad persisted in the snow for a week and rescued all the civilians in a church. Fifty-two KIA.
That's all the record they had in Babylonia's system.
...
Albert, we call him green-head. Garzah, always had mint leaves with him. Coates, he came from Islay Islands, just like you and Bruce…
No matter what... I cannot give a reasonable explanation for that list. But what I know is...
Those people evacuated to Babylonia... The first batch of them were researchers of anti-Punishing technology.
The second batch is... It may sound like an excuse to you.
But they're necessary for regulating society and spreading culture after the war ends.
We live in a dark era, but we need someone to look to the future.
This is what "bird of hope" means.
...
...What about my hope...? There are tens of thousands of soldiers like me, abandoned, stranded on the ground. What about our hope?
Maybe you're right, young man. But I have made my decision.
Captain Cyril...
Bruce used to talk about you.
What... did he say?
He said you were a great pilot. He looked up to you. He became a mercenary because he wanted to become one like you.
He never hated anyone, even after the war took his family.
My biggest regret... Is that I couldn't save him.
Bruce was unique. But his legacy will go on. I will never stop fighting on this land, even just for his sake.
I will carry on his legacy.
I'm sorry, but I have to stop you!
Alright. Come on then, kid!! I've never lost to anyone in the air!!!
What a pity, you never got to fight Bruce!
But I'm just as good!
