Book 3: Chapter 53.2
Book 3: Chapter 53.2
The Black Sky Pirate Smiles Under The Moonlight
** Anastasia **
You were hiding something like this?ーAnastasia thought.
「What do you think? This is the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the strategic airship “Sky Harvest”.」
The Emperor happily walked inside the flying aircraft carrier “Sky Harvest” with Anastasia by his side.
All of a sudden, the Empire’s sky was blanketed by darkness. A huge and eerie creature descended from the blood-red void in the darkness. The Emperor, however, was calm because he had this strategic airship.
If “Queen of the Night” is a beautiful, fast airship, “Sky Harvest” is a clunky but big and strong airship. At least 100 people are needed to operate this airship.
「Just when I was thinking that we successfully captured the Labyrinth of Fear and the Labyrinth of Hatred, things turned out like this. But looking at it from another perspective, this is a great opportunity to test the power of “Sky Harvest”.」
The Emperor, accompanied by many of his ministers as well as Anastasia, arrived at the guest room located at the top of the control room. Overlooking the many people working in the control room, the battle with the snake anemone can be seen through the magic tempered glass attached to the front.
Due to the simultaneous bombardment from the military airships, the body of the snake anemone and the big snakes were enveloped in large flames. As the sea anemone twisted and turned as if in pain, cheers rose from the ministers.
The Emperor intended to treat himself to “watching a giant monster subjugation” from first-class viewing together with the ministers. Anastasia was only brought here to add glitz.
Hearing she was going to board an airship, Anastasia wore a culottes skirt, which is also used for horseback riding, long boots, and a stab-proof jacket. Her throat was bandaged again just in case, and she wore a scarf over it, so it wouldn’t raise suspicions.
(But still… what is this feeling I’m getting?)
Anastasia, however, was struck by an unpleasant premonition. There is no doubt that the airship fleet of the Lev Magic Empire is a rare military force in this world. The number of airships equipped with turrets is close to 40, and no other country can fire as many shells, as if firing hundreds of arrows.
「Our army is the strongest.」
「It can be said to be the best in the world.」
The ministers talked with excitement.
(But… it doesn’t seem effective on that monster, though?)
That question is at the root of Anastasia’s premonition. Purple bodily fluids scattered about, and carcasses of snakes kept falling to the ground, but the snake anemone was still alive and the number of big snakes does not appear to have diminished.
Black smoke from the bombardment obstructed the view and it was difficult to see, but the snake anemone did not show any signs of dying at all.
KIINNー
At that moment, a buzz-like sound was heard. Everyone on the spot also had puzzled looks, so it wasn’t heard by Anastasia alone.
「Oh, the snakes are falling.」
One of the ministers pointed and shouted. Indeed, a large number of snakes were falling from the snake anemone’s mouth. The fallen snakes crawled under debris and buildings.
「Hahaha, does this mean it’s the end of the subjugation?」
「So troublesome that it scattered snakes on the ground at the end.」
「Get in touch with the ground forces.」
Although such words were exchanged, Anastasia had a feeling that the snake anemone—though now just a bloodied mess, was still quite alive.
「I want that monster dragged down. The fact that it is sprouting from the sky is worrying me for some reason.」
It happened right when the Emperor said that.
The snake anemone lifted its dangling head where the snakes fell out of and lunged at the airship fleet.
KA——————
A light of severe intensity was emitted. Even Anastasia, who was looking at the scene from a distance, thought that her eyes had been “burned” for a moment due to the light.
The light that washed over the sky engulfed more than 10 airships, broke past the clouds, and disappeared into outer space.
「What was that?!」
「My eyes! My eyes!」
「Someone, protect His Majesty!」
Both the commander’s room and the guest room were in pandemonium.
When Anastasia opened her still brightly flashed eyes, she saw the huge trunk of a snake hung down like a wilted flower. But as it descended to the ground, it plunged into the flock of snakes that fell from its mouth earlier and began munching on them.
Anastasia felt nauseous at the horrifying sight.
But the problem was that the wilted trunk began to swell. The snake anemone was restoring its strength by eating those snakes.
「Deploy the main gun of “Sky Harvest”!」
When the Emperor shouted, the commander downstairs looked back.
「But, Your Majesty. The test operation of the main gun is not over yet.」
「That huge trunk will take damage even if it misses a little. Deploy it right away!」
「Yes, sir!」
The crew started moving busily. The deck under their eyes popped open, and a massive turret emerged.
Bluish formulaic patterns appeared on the surface of the barrel because this is a sorcery gun. This gun turret fires a blast of high-energy as the snake anemone used earlier, and it doesn’t contain live ammunition.
「Oh……」
Someone’s voice leaked as the surroundings suddenly turned dark and only the emergency light was on.
『For the main gun to operate, 85% of the sorcery energy on board is concentrated to the main gun.』
The operator’s announcement was heard.
『The sorcery control system runs without a problem… Main gun energy charged to 15%, locking-on to the giant creature in front as the target for bombardment. Energy charged to 40%, can be fired in 15 seconds.』
Not only the barrel of the main gun, but the turret itself emitted a pale light.
Anastasia, the ministers, and the Emperor were watching the gun.
It wasn’t only them, however.
「The enemy has noticed.」
The snake anemone, which was hunting for the big snakes, turned its head toward them and opened its mouth. They couldn’t see it until now, but now it was clear as day.
The open mouth seemed like a gaping wide hole, with innumerable white teeths lined inside. Its sole purpose is to eat, grind and swallow.
Light gathered in the back of the hole. The snake was trying to shoot them as well.
「S-Shoot it quickly!」
『5 seconds left. 4, 3, 2, 1.』
At the same time as the commander issued “Shoot!”, the main gun shone bright, and a beam of pale light was fired at the trunk hanging from the red spot in the sky.
A deafening roar echoed. “Sky Harvest” itself rocked a few meters behind due to the recoil of the discharge.
As a result, the accuracy of the hit was reduced. The beam hit the right half of the trunk directly and exploded, accompanied with another deafening sound.
On the other hand, as a result of the recoil movement, the energy wave fired by the snake anemone did not hit the control room directly. However, a large hole was made in the hull, and the “Sky Harvest” swayed as if about to capsize.
Screams broke out in the commander’s office.
Alarms were sounding due to the serious damage.
Anastasia grabbed a railing right beside her and desperately held on.
(We’re going to crash! We couldn’t defeat the enemy! What’s going to happen?!)
Such thoughts filled Anastasia’s mind, but at that time–
(Where is Reiji?)
She remembered the boy who worked hard to cure her peculiar constitution, and got injured for her sake.
He went through a hard time because of Polina’s misunderstanding and Anastasia’s guards, but even in that moment, he was still worried about Anastasia.
(For Reiji-san’s sake too… I can’t give up and die in this place!)
When she opened her eyes wide, in front of the now slanted “Sky Harvest”, she saw almost half of the huge trunk was torn to pieces. And one other thing — Why is that here?
A beautiful silver hull floated calmly in the air despite the presence of the disordered military airship fleet.
“Queen of the Night” was on the other side of the trunk.
The figure of a person could be seen standing on the deck—even though it was dangerous due to strong winds.
(A woman?)
The black cloak which blends into the darkness, proof of the sky pirates, fluttered in the sky. And underneath it was a violet combat uniform that was not “lady”-like. Her blonde hair tied to the back blew in the strong wind.
Her violet pupils that seemed to stand unyielding in the face of the entire world, were staring down at the torn-to-pieces huge monster dangling from the sky.
Anastasia, of course, did not hear the voice of the girl when she opened her mouth at that time.
——Aa-ah, this thing is already so broken…….
The girl had an expression that was too unsuitable for the current circumstances.
She was smiling.
Fearlessly. Irreverently. Mysteriously.
It was as if the existence before her was no more than a trivial creature.
——Die, you giant oaf.
The girl’s hand was holding darkness. A black blade-like darkness.
What appeared in the sky as she swung her arm was the blade of the “Shadow King”, which even sliced off the neck of a dragon.
The blade descended.
A spectacle often depicted in myths and legends.
Calling it a giant blade does not do it justice. It was as if a god’sーthe God of Darkness’ blade was swung down upon the world.
The snake anemone was not the only thing slashed apart by the blade of “Shadow King”. Even the darkness that spread in the sky and the blood red spot were torn apart, and the moon beyond appeared.
While the moonlight illuminated the upper sky, the giant snake anemone fell to the ground. Bodily fluids poured onto the ground like heavy rain from the cut end of the trunk in the sky.