Dancing Circles on the Horizon of Events

It was true that Eccleria's airship appeared. But the behavior seemed very different from what Yuki and the others had expected.

"... what are you doing?

Beyond the valley, which was made to the ground, it came to a place where nothing was supposed to have happened, and it stopped. The appearance of Eccleria's airship, which did not bring an increase in numbers, nor participate in the battle, is oddly reflected in the eyes of Yuki, who was in the middle of the battlefield.

Incidentally, at this time, on the Coalition side, certain instructions seemed to have been transferred to execution.... When Eccleria's airship arrives, maintain the status quo until the witch Amber eliminates the threat. If it was dense, it should be scattered so as not to be caught in the explosion of the magic conductor furnace.

Therefore, the voice raised by Amber, who was at Operations, could hardly reach anyone.

"What? The airship's here? Where?... Oh, you've come a long way. Why are you here... ahhh?! A little much--"

Amber noticed something and said it in a hurry —— right after that.

Cupiwin......

A airship explodes over a plain where nothing is supposed to be. An installed demon conductor caused a huge explosion.

But the blast created by that blast is of what reaches the town of Crust in less than a dozen seconds --,

Dwong!!

—— The sound of such an ear-splitting explosion and just a few strong winds to the town did not cause any substantial damage. So at first glance, it didn't even look like Eccleria's airship had an accident or something--

"Ahhh... oh my god..."

—— Seems to have caused some loss, as Amber is outraged on the spot.

◇

Understanding and sharing the situation took place after the battle was over.

"Sorry!"

Amber makes an apology immediately. But Yuki, who couldn't understand why she had to apologize, tilted her neck.

"Suddenly, what's wrong? The ship blew up a long way from town, and there's no damage to us, not to the town, is there?

Yuki's inquiry seemed to be listened to with interest by all the leaders who were on the spot.

In doing so, Amber began to tell us what had happened.

"Right beneath that explosion... there were the Eclerian prisoners who evacuated them..."

The moment she utters the word, an unspeakable air begins to drift inside the Operations Command Room. But Amber continued to speculate without being frightened.

"I think the explosion was aimed at retrieving the prisoners."

Hearing Amber's words, Yuki inquired.

"What about survival?

"Confirmed… None"

"Really..."

Yuki hit the relationship short and dropped her shoulder. There was a figure in her brain —— or in the brains of those who were on the spot -- of Eclerian soldiers working in irrigation operations that seemed to be enjoyable, and such a structure emerged that they had been recovered until they had been forced to kill by instructions from military superiors.

It just wasn't Amber's fault. The ship was pinpointed and retrieved the Eclerian captives. There is only one possible reason for this.

"... you can only assume that there was an inside man among the prisoners... (I don't think there are spies on the Coalition side...)"

Except under certain conditions, which we visit three times a day, the morale on the part of the coalition was so high that if the situation of the prisoners were to leak to the Eclerian side, it could only be assumed that it was because there were insiders among the prisoners.

"... I think this was inevitable, no matter how careful you paid. I'm going to say that the location of this one responsibility is unquestionable, gentlemen, do you have any objections?

If you are to be held responsible, it is up to you... Yuki asked those who were on the spot, thinking about it. But no one disputes her words...... Command concluded that Amber had nothing to do with it.

◇

Night comes upon the high ground of the town of Crust after the installation of the Gatling Cannon Defense System for base defense. On the high ground, besides the defensive system like a white tower, there is an amber figure who thinks this one is his own fault... She had a bonyard view of the night that was illuminated by the moon.

"We have to let it transfer..."

Couldn't we have helped the prisoners... Such regret swirls in her head. But if there really was an insider, there was nothing she could have done, so her regrets were meaningless. Besides, it wasn't Amber who said he was going to evacuate the prisoners, so she wasn't even supposed to carry the "be" word of responsibility.

Behind such an amber, a shadow appears soothingly.

"... Sophie?

As usual, Amber thinks it's what his own counterpart has done and turns around. But there she was, very different from what she expected--,

"No, it's me"

--Somehow he was a wise man. His expression like that is dark as darkness at night around him...... Like Amber, he seemed to feel a sense of regret and responsibility.