Daian gave them a succinct rundown of the key points. The two learned that the Security Department was conducting experiments to develop a new weapon that threatened to instigate another war, and Meitzer was now caught up in it.
“What a stupid thing they have done.”
Lud was at a loss for words. He had been at war for ten years and it had finally ended just two years ago.
“Are you saying another war is going to break out?”
It was the worst nightmare they could imagine.
“Genitz left behind some troublemakers. Actually, they may be worse than he was.” Daian sighed as if he agreed.
Genitz had a reason for staging the rebellion in the royal capital. By starting a war, he intended to achieve certain hopes and ideals. He had wanted to establish a unified nation before science and technology developed to the point that humanity could be destroyed beyond recovery. That alone might appear delusional, but at least it was better than believing war itself was the goal.
“Meitzer tried to stop that plan and they took him prisoner.”
“Why would he do that? Or rather... how in the world did they capture him?!”
Sven knew how indestructible Meitzer was, so she found his captivity hard to believe.
“It seems he was with a female soldier, a regular soldier. They took her hostage. Apparently, Meitzer is quite the gentleman.”
“Oh.”
Sven’s face took on a conflicted expression upon hearing those words. She used to think it was the height of folly to take a job as a soldier, in full awareness you might die, only to then cling to your life and expose the nation to danger. Now she was slightly relieved the man claiming to be her father had chosen to preserve this one life.
“I suppose Meitzer would prioritize stopping the Verne 1 plan over his own life.”
“Yes, indeed.” Daian’s reply to Lud was brief.
Meitzer had probably gone to the Association for Space Travel alone and without personal security because he wanted to halt the plan quietly before it became an international conflict. That had not gone as expected and in fact the situation was now much more serious.
“In other words, we have to stop the Verne 1 launch test if we want Meitzer to tell us how Sven can become human.”
“Yes, that’s right. What should we do?”
Lud had only one answer to Daian’s question.
“We have to stop it.”
“But, Master... this must not put you in danger!” Sven’s voice rose to a near shriek.
If Lud was still a soldier back in the military, it would be different. Lud was an ordinary baker now. He was a civilian. He should be protected, and was someone with the right to avoid danger.
“Sven, I was happy about our wedding three days ago. The townsfolk came to celebrate with us.”
“Huh? Uh, yeah...” Sven was baffled by the sudden change in topic.
“They suffered greatly in the war. Marlene and Jacob too. They all suffered.”
Many people had suffered and were injured, had been sad and struggled, and some had even lost their way and gone astray. Nonetheless, they gradually got back on their feet and eventually were able to celebrate the happiness of others.
“They were joyful because we are happy, so I don’t want to see them suffer.”
“Aw...”
Sven’s shoulders slumped. She thought about how this man never changed. His good nature was bottomless. If someone was unhappy, he couldn’t be happy either.
“Ha ha ha ha!” Listening to them, Daian laughed in amusement. “You married someone incredible, Svelgen!”
“Shut up, you!”
Usually, a bad husband was one who made his wife suffer because he wouldn’t work and was always off gallivanting—drinking, gambling and visiting brothels. However, Lud was the type of husband who inspired suffering of a very different type.
“I had no idea the situation would blow up like this!”
She wanted to become human, but who would have guessed it would lead to stopping the outbreak of war?
“Then we’ve reached a decision. Shall we go to where Meitzer is being held... the new weapon test site known as Penmunde?”
“But how do we get there?”
Penmunde’s location was within Sven’s databanks. It was a seaport on Wiltia’s northern edge. It was far from the main highway and no train passed through.
“Ha ha ha... Svelgen, you underestimate me.” Daian hummed merrily and behaved like a clown. “Come with me!” Then he led them toward the development bureau’s inner courtyard.
The Royal Weapons Development Bureau’s nickname was “the Snail.” Each area was independent, and the experiments being conducted within grew more important the deeper inside you went. The inner courtyard was at the halfway point. It was called a yard, but there was no grass anywhere. What they found was exceedingly strange.
“I’m not called the Sorcerer for nothing! I’m no magician, so I can’t turn a pumpkin into a carriage, but I can easily give you a ride to the ball!”
It was an airplane. But, it was a very odd airplane. For one thing, it had three wings. Two wings made sense. Four wasn’t out of the question. However, with wings extending in three directions, this plane could never achieve enough aerodynamic lift. Another strange thing about it was that the central vertex was vertical. This would never allow the gliding necessary for takeoff.
“What is that?”
At the sight of this object, which appeared to be a joke or crazy avant-garde art, Sven could find no words.
“Oh? Don’t you know what this is, Svelgen? It is a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. I call it a Triebflügel.” Daian spoke as if saying “Tadaaa!”
“Vertical takeoff and landing?”
As its name suggested, it was an aircraft that took off and landed vertically. A traditional aircraft required a long runway for take off and landing. However, with a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, a runway was unnecessary. It could be parked anywhere. If desired, it could even depart from and land on the deck of a warship.
“How does this thing fly?”
“It gains propulsion from three ramjet engines on the wings.” Daian explained as if he had been waiting for Sven’s question.
“Oh, that’s why it has three wings!”
When thrusting vertically from underneath, three points would create higher stability than one or two.
“No, you don’t understand.” Daian shot down her conclusion. “Each engine rotates horizontally, spinning the wings and thereby generating lift.”
“Huh?!”
She thought the wings were in a weird place, but the way it lifted off was strange too. In other words, the whole thing was like a giant propeller.
“How did you arrive at such an idiotic design?”
“According to my calculations, this is more stable.”
“What?”
She was unable to overlook a certain piece of missing information.
“Um... Director? Have you test-flown this aircraft?”
“There are no problems with any part of it.”
“Have you actually flown it?”
“I did perform a test takeoff with a mock-up.”
“I’m asking if you actually got inside, flew it, and landed!”
“Wa ha ha ha ha!”
“You can’t blow this off with laughter!!”
The aircraft had never been flown.
“Well, what do you want? This is the fastest aircraft I have on hand! I’m telling you, even I would find it difficult to borrow an aircraft from the military!”
Daian’s connections might pay off in time, but they only had two days. Toolman’s special combat unit, including Sophia, would travel by rail and military truck. They needed to get to Penmunde before that group and rescue Meitzer. There was only one option.
“Understood. We’ll use it.” Lud accepted Daian’s proposal.
“You finally decided? Prep is complete, so hurry and climb in!”
As if waiting for Lud’s reply, the hatch opened and a man appeared.
“Major... so that’s where you were?”
Blitzdonner appeared from the cockpit.
“If not me, then who can fly this gobsmacking contraption?!”
The crimson daredevil grinned at them. He had fought since the early days of the Great War, and even now he belonged to an organization that sent him on dangerous missions. In expectation of all types of combat, he had learned how to pilot any aircraft.
“I’ll be your copilot!”
“I see... You?”