novelraw Chapter 66 : Chapter 66
Chapter 66 : Chapter 66
Chapter 66
A pure white space.
Was it because my consciousness was dim, or because my mind was hazy?
It clearly looked like a space with various furniture, but in a strange situation where I couldn't properly identify anything other than people, a pair of red eyes turned to me.
She, who had a dazzlingly beautiful appearance, was frowning, her beautiful eyebrows creased as if something was displeasing her.
She crossed her legs, tapping her foot roughly, and let out a sigh for the umpteenth time.
"...Reysia."
A low male voice was heard.
As if it had nothing to do with my will, my head automatically turned to the space I presumed to be a door.
Soon, a young man appeared, pushing the space aside.
The red eyes left me and turned to the man.
Soon, she contorted her face, showing a very unpleasant expression.
"Don't say anything."
The voice that flowed out made the atmosphere several times colder than the cold wind of the forefront blowing in from the wide-open window.
Just listening to it felt as if all the blood in my body was freezing.
It felt as if the back of my neck was standing on end, as if power was contained in the voice she uttered.
Should I say I felt the dignity of a ruler?
However, the man nonchalantly ignored her warning.
"How long are you going to be like this? You know it too. The more you insist, the more the soldiers' anxiety grows."
"It's not stubbornness. I'm just doing what I'm supposed to do."
"Doing nothing is what you're supposed to do?"
"For now."
This time, it was the man's expression that contorted.
He took a deep breath as if he was about to pour out a torrent of words, but he shook his head and repeatedly let it out meaninglessly, then sat down in a chair, exhausted.
The man's gaze turned not to Reysia, but to me.
"It's not just Reysia's problem. Why are you silent?"
"......"
"If Reysia is in this state, shouldn't you step up and make a decision? At least if you take the lead, the other soldiers will..."
"Joshua!"
Reysia, who had shot up from her seat, shouted vehemently.
Her hand was on the red sword at her waist.
Her momentum was so fierce that it seemed she would draw her sword and swing it at any moment, but the man, Joshua, did not bat an eye.
"I don't... want to be like this either."
He dry-washed his face.
He looked around distractedly, like a man being chased by something.
"But we can't stay like this forever. The pressure is getting stronger. The soldiers with low mental strength have already..."
"Kill them all."
"Reysia!"
"Soldiers of that level can be nurtured again at any time. Don't place value on them. Odin doesn't have the luxury to train dogs with insufficient loyalty right now."
"...Take it back."
In the end, Joshua, who couldn't hold it in, also stood up and took a battle stance.
He hadn't drawn his weapon, but he, who was naturally gifted with monstrous strength, was a sufficient threat with just his two fists.
Reysia's eyes turned cold.
She was a person who would cut down even Joshua, her companion since the founding of Odin, without mercy.
Because there was only one person in the world she felt affection for.
What should I do?
I pondered.
Fortunately, the door opened and a person appeared who would resolve this extremely hostile atmosphere.
Although he was not a very welcome guest.
"You two. Fighting again? You really get along well."
It was a young boy.
But everyone here knew that, unlike his appearance, he was raising a monster inside.
Reysia, Joshua, and I.
We all had expressions as if we had bitten into a bug.
Despite the pouring hostility, the man just grinned with a face that made you want to hit him.
"I don't know how long you're going to keep worrying. You're all just soldiers of White Hero like me."
At the man's slightly provocative attitude, Joshua sighed and opened his mouth.
"...This has never happened before."
"Doesn't that mean Odin is special?"
"I never wished for this kind of special treatment."
"But what can you do? All of this is White Hero's..."
"Get out."
A cold voice interrupted the man's words.
It was Reysia.
"...Reysia."
"If you don't want your head to be cut off, then get lost."
"How violent."
A small crack appeared in the man's smile.
The man, who was trying his best to maintain a nonchalant smile, left the room.
Even so, perhaps because he didn't want to lose, he tapped his wrist.
It probably meant that there wasn't much time left.
After the man left, the atmosphere became even more bloodthirsty.
However, one fortunate thing was that due to the appearance of a common enemy, the dispute between Reysia and Joshua did not escalate to a sword fight.
Joshua sighed and just stared at the ground, while Reysia, with a face full of dissatisfaction, just stared at the ceiling.
Then, perhaps because she suddenly felt a gaze, she turned her head to me.
She said.
"You get out too. I don't want to see you."
"......"
How could I ignore the expulsion order from the strongest hero of White Hero?
I left the room.
As if he knew I would be kicked out, the man from earlier was smiling.
"Come to think of it, this is the first time we've talked alone. My introduction is late. I am Den Page, the commander of Rhodes."
* * *
"...What was that?"
It seemed I had dozed off without realizing it.
The sun was still in the middle of the sky, and the hot sun was pouring in through a small window.
I didn't know what they were doing outside, but the sound of Byan scolding someone echoed loudly.
"Was it a dream?"
Looking at the content, it was definitely a meaningless dream.
Not only would Reysia not show such an attitude towards me, but since Reysia was strictly Joshua's superior, even though they were founding comrades, there was no possibility of such a conflict of opinion.
Reysia's orders were unconditionally above Joshua's, and Joshua knew that well.
More than anything, there was no way that man could exist on Odin's airship.
Rank 1.
It didn't make sense for Den Page, the commander of Rhodes, to be on board Odin's airship.
For Odin, who had achieved the 2nd rank through pure combat and strategy, Rhodes was an unwelcome competitor who had taken the 1st place through what seemed to be unfair special benefits and evaluations.
Odin would never develop a favorable relationship with Rhodes.
It had been that way until now, and it would be that way in the future.
The moment I thought it was just a meaningless dream I had after meeting Reysia after a long time.
I saw the ring Reysia had given me glowing faintly red.
It wasn't just glowing, but the symbol that had been cleverly hidden inside was showing its presence very clearly.
"......"
When I stared at it with wide eyes, the ring, as if it had done its job, hid its light and returned to its original, ordinary accessory form.
"...Could it be that Reysia intentionally showed me that vision?"
If so....
The abnormal behavior Odin had shown since I came to this world was somewhat understandable.
No matter how much I, the commander, was absent, Reysia was still there, so there was no way Den Page of Rhodes could control Odin.
Rhodes, who held the 1st place in the ranking through a shortcut, was a step below Odin in every aspect, be it combat power or anything else.
Nevertheless, the reason Den Page could act so cocky was probably because he had a reliable backer.
And in this world, there was only one group that could put some pressure on Odin.
The group commonly referred to as the heavens.
The Imperial Family.
And among them, the being who stood at the top.
The Queen of White Hero.
She must have been involved.
"...Not knowing their place."
The thought that my current situation had become complicated because of that damn woman made my anger surge.
But now, all I could do was vent my anger towards the Queen of White Hero, whose face and name I didn't even know.
It might make me feel better for now, but it wouldn't solve the problem, so I took a deep breath and composed my emotions.
To solve the problem, first, the cause must be identified, but looking at the situation, it seemed that it would be difficult to even get information from Reysia.
At least until I got to the second island of the Frei Archipelago.
I would have to go to Roka to get anything.
Just then, the ship's horn blew.
It meant we had arrived at our destination.
The sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor.
When I left the room, I saw Selina's face among the crew members who were moving very busily.
Following her, I went up to the deck and saw a cloud mass of a marvelous size, like a dragon's nest, above the vast sea of clouds.
The ship of Unit 917 plunged into the clouds.
The world was dyed all white.
And a short while later.
"...My goodness. Wha-what is that?"
Byan, who was training the soldiers of the 2nd squad on the deck, said with a blank face upon discovering the building.
Byan's reaction was relatively tame.
As for Latia, her legs had given out and she had collapsed.
That's how much of an unbelievable sight was unfolding before our eyes.
An unbelievably huge building was floating above the sea of clouds.
The airship of Unit 917 headed towards the building.
As the distance closed, a shadow was cast over the airship.
"Is that that sky island thing? No, but that's not an island! It's just a building.... How can a building be floating in the sky? Huh? Huh?!"
"......"
Byan, who couldn't hold back his curiosity, ran over and showered me with questions.
Not just Byan, but everyone except Ririsa was lined up behind me, waiting for my answer.
It seemed they wouldn't leave until their curiosity was satisfied.
I wanted to pass it on to Selina, but unfortunately, she was busy with important work and couldn't be disturbed.
Since there was no other way, I began to explain, feeling like a tour guide.
"This is the Alliance's air base, Ederca. You can understand it as all the supply for all the armies fighting in the Frei Archipelago goes through here, Ederca."
Aerial warfare consumed a lot of resources.
In addition, if the battle became a long-term one, it would require frequent supply.
However, since the main battleground in the Frei Archipelago was a sky island floating in the air, the distance from the ground was far, and supply was not smooth.
That's why the air base Ederca was created.
"A-amazing."
"...Can't they just build a building on an island? It seems like a waste of resources."
Latia asked a question.
It was a very common-sense question that anyone who could think a little would inevitably ask, and that's why I had an answer prepared for it.
"There are two reasons. One is that the ground is unstable."
"The ground is unstable, what does that mean? Senior."
"That is.... I'll explain it to you later when I get the chance. I don't think it would be good to explain it now."
"......?"
It wasn't that difficult to answer her question.
But I was sure.
The moment I answered that question, our morale would plummet, and it would definitely have a negative impact on future operations.
Should I say it was a relief?
Although Latia had a look of dying curiosity on her face, she did not ask any further questions.
"And the second reason is.... simple. Because White Hero is here too."