Shirin’s lips trembled as she gritted her teeth. “Not…fair…” “” “This isn’t fair at all! This is dirty! How selfish can you be?! You’re all older than us, aren’t you?! So…!” Shirin yelled in a rage as the Valkyries made their case. They made no effort to disagree with the young girl, resigning themselves to her censure. It was only natural. After all, Shirin was not wrong in the slightest. Rusalka and the Valkyries were being unfair. It was cowardly and despicable. “…I knew it would end up like this…” The extreme emotion in her voice faded as she murmured that. The Valkyries looked up when they heard the change in her tone. They were greeted by the scene of Shirin covering her face with her hand as she sank to the floor. As she sat on the floor, her voice was tearful like a child’s. “…Fine, fine! I’ll be your bait or whatever.” She finally managed to force the words out. “Shiri…” Claudia knelt and hugged her sister as Shirin continued to hide her face. Leaning into her older sister’s embrace, Shirin’s breathing became ragged, like she was sobbing. Shirin’s resigned acceptance tortured the conscience of everyone who heard it. There was nothing crueler they could have done to a civilian, and one who had been constantly fleeing for her life for so long, at that. But even so— “You have my gratitude, Shirin Brafford.” Rusalka had not been able to ignore the expectations they had for her, and so she wanted to at least say her thanks. Even though she knew that it would only be a knife that stabbed into Shirin’s heart. “Major… Everyone… I…” Natalie’s eyes were clouded as she watched the scene unfold. But what was probably going to be a noble declaration of her desire to maintain her humanity was stopped by Alma’s embrace. Alma tearfully peered into Natalie’s eyes. “Please…Natalie…” She pleaded with her not to reject a chance at being saved. Natalie averted her eyes, caving to Alma’s tearful request. In a way, it was the same as with Shirin. Both of their opinions were pushed aside by the egos of those around them. And— “Shirin, Claudia, you have my thanks for your cooperation… Odin, with this—” “Yes, with this, we have the minimum required pieces to carry out your proposal.” Odin responded in the affirmative to Alejandro’s question. The god touched the patch covering his right eye as he focused his one remaining eye on the two sisters, who seemed to be holding on to each other for dear life. To Rusalka, it looked almost like she could see a lonely hint of nostalgia in his eye. That said, it was unclear why he would look at the Brafford sisters like that. Before she could ask him about it, Odin spread his crossed arms. “Here we have gathered all my daughters who have sworn to help! Out there lies the pillar of light, Mistletoe, a monster that would kill even a child of light! By slaying it, you may gain the chance to save your sister! Then there is no choice but to face it in battle! Naught now but to lay it low! I shall lend my strength to my daughters who wish to take up the sword!” As Odin spoke sonorously, he exuded an overpowering aura that could only come from a true god. As the people in the room stiffened under the swelling tension, he continued. “The time has come to restore the horn of battle possessed by the Shining God—Gjallarhorn!” 2 “What is Gjallarhorn?” They had left Alma with Natalie in the hospital room and moved to the base commander’s office to continue the conversation before Rusalka asked that question. In the room were her; Odin, who was standing with arms crossed; the Brafford sisters, whose presence Odin had requested; and the room’s owner, Alejandro. Shannon and the other Valkyries were on standby for the time being, while also being sworn to secrecy about everything that had been said in the hospital room. And— “I would like an explanation that actually makes sense. Both in regard to them and in regard to Mistletoe.” “You’ve quite the scary look on your face, Rusalka. It’s almost like you’re staring down an enemy.” “In my experience, allies who cause problems by hiding things can be far more dangerous than any enemy.” It was a truly arrogant way to address a god, but Rusalka was intentionally choosing an aggressive tone. Hearing that, Odin flashed a smile at her. “Admirable. Concerned for others even if it means provoking my displeasure? You’ve grown into the role of squadron leader quite well. I suppose this could also be considered the fruits of your training, Alejandro?” “Give me a break. That’s just how she is naturally. The credit for her growth is all hers. All I’ve done for her is just keep being my same great self.” “I was on the verge of having a change of heart about you, but you dashed my hopes in the second half, sir.” Alejandro could only scratch his head in response to Rusalka’s stiff comment. But then his expression turned serious as he shifted his blue eyes to the Brafford sisters. “I didn’t have a chance to confirm with you, Odin, but these two…” “Your guess is correct. It’s easy enough to tell at a glance, I imagine. They are my daughters.” “…Again?” Odin shrugged as Alejandro sighed in equal parts exasperation and frustration. However, the one who felt that most was Rusalka, who found herself out of the loop yet once more. “Please explain yourself, Commander. What sort of tricks are you and Lord Odin plotting?” “Tricks? What a terrible way to put it. And the one plotting things is the god over there. I’m a victim here, too… Particularly when it comes to them.” Alejandro jerked his chin in the direction of the Brafford sisters. Seeing that, Claudia, who was still holding her sister, spoke up. “Apologies, but Shiri…my sister…has already agreed to help you. And I plan to support her as well. However, there is something I would like to confirm.” “What?” Odin asked. “What exactly is it that you would have us do? We naturally draw pillars to us. So are you planning to just have us stand around outside?” “Stand around? Not at all! And you seem to be suffering a slight misunderstanding, Claudia.” Odin ostentatiously clapped his hands at her question. His eye opened wide with a hint of excitement as he took a step toward Claudia, who instinctively pulled back ever so slightly. And as she struggled to decide on how she should respond, Odin put his slender finger under her chin, tilting her head up. “My lovely daughter, you have beautiful eyes.” “…I’m honored by your praise, but I am not your daughter.” “So cold. But as I said, you are misunderstanding something. You seem to be under the impression that the pillars are drawn to you and your sister, but that is mistaken.” “What?” Claudia’s eyes widened at the totally unexpected response even as Odin maintained his grip on her chin. Odin turned his gaze to Shirin. She trembled and shrank back as the god’s eye focused on her. “—Ah.” “You’ve been a bad child. Have you been deceiving Claudia all this time? The sister who has always protected you and to whose love you cling?” “N-no… I—I…” Shirin’s eyes widened as she shook her head violently in denial. Ever since she had met Odin, Shirin had been shrinking back in fear, constantly betraying the impression she had made when Rusalka and the other Valkyries first met her out in the woods. Which was the real her? No, regardless of which one might be real, it was clear to see which was the least painful for her to live as. “Odin, please don’t pointlessly torture her. What are you trying to say?” Rusalka was curt. “It’s simple. The pillars are not after the two of them. They are only after Shirin. And she has known that all along. The only one who didn’t know was Claudia.” Shirin’s expression froze at Odin’s sudden reveal. Alejandro and Rusalka were both shocked. And naturally Claudia, who had had the truth hidden from her all along, was no different. “Shiri? Is that true?” “Ah… N-no… I…” “…So it is true.” From Shirin’s reaction, Claudia could tell immediately. Then she closed her eyes and exhaled slightly. “I finally understand what Father meant. He told me to protect you.” Their father seemingly knew something about their unusual situation, and remembering his words, Claudia came to an acceptance in her heart. And having reached that acceptance, she opened her eyes and looked directly at Odin. “Lord Odin, I’ve heard that you choose Valkyries and grant them your divine blessing. Is that true?” “Yes, that’s true. I welcome those who have the natural disposition as one of my daughters and grant them my blessing along with wings with which to fight.” “Do I have what it takes to become a Valkyrie?” “—!” She held a hand to her chest as she posed that question to Odin. Shirin was aghast when she heard it, but Claudia ignored her sister’s reaction as she pressed on. “My family…my father and grandfather were both pilots. I don’t know how much of that runs through my veins, but I believe I may at least have some aptitude for flying. I may even be able to make use of my experience riding with Father in a small plane long ago. And I have always loved looking up at the sky.” “The contents of your sales pitch aside…your determination is clear. And you need not worry, Claudia. I’ve known all along that you have the potential to be a Valkyrie.” “Then…” “W-wait!” Claudia leaned in as Odin nodded, but Shirin broke into the conversation. She grabbed her sister’s sleeve, clawing Claudia back as she resolutely started forward. “I’m fine, Sister! I’m fine! So you don’t have to…” “I said it before, Shiri. Everyone wants to fight for their family. I’m no different.” “—Ah.” “I want to fight for the sake of my precious family—even if I’m a pathetic older sister with whom you couldn’t share the pain you felt in your heart.” She had always thought that they were both saddled with the fate of being chased by pillars. But that wasn’t the truth of the matter. And discovering that was like a heavy barb buried deep in Claudia’s heart. As long as the pain of that thorn remained, there was no way Claudia’s resolve would ever break. “” Perhaps realizing that, Shirin slumped. She looked even more brokenhearted than when she had accepted serving as a lure for the pillars. Almost as if she had had her only wish shattered— “What beautiful sibling love. An older sister determined to fight for the sake of her younger sister. Truly, a moving scene.” Watching the two of them, Odin nodded in satisfaction. Feeling an imprudent irritation at his reaction, Rusalka glared at the god reproachfully. “Odin, to show such contempt—” “Contempt? Spare me your distrustful suspicions. I meant nothing more than what I said. And Claudia will become a powerful asset in the battles to come—she has the potential to come close to Amy’s level of strength.” “—! Close to Amy…?” Odin’s endorsement was connected directly to Rusalka’s weak point. Hearing that Claudia was comparable to Amy, Rusalka reflexively turned to examine Claudia. She was holding her sister’s shoulder while meeting Rusalka’s gaze straight on. She resembled Amy, but she was more dignified and wore a tenser expression. “Odin, can you get around to explaining this Gjallarhorn already? Rusalka and I have a lot of work to do with all the reports from the last battle.” Not pleased with seeing the conversation stall out, Alejandro pressed Odin to continue. “It’s rude to rush a god. But I’m in a good mood, so I’ll allow it. Gjallarhorn is a sacred treasure, something you desperately want more than you can possibly know.” “A sacred treasure that we want… Do you mean—?” Rusalka didn’t dare to hope. “That’s right. A treasure capable of foretelling the coming of pillars.” Rusalka’s and Alejandro’s expressions stiffened in shock at his answer. The ability to predict the appearance of pillars. That was exactly what humanity had been wishing for. Until now, humanity had had no choice but to yield the initiative to the pillars. Their attacks were random and unpredictable, leaving humanity to fight an opponent that came on like a natural disaster. With Valkyries bolstering the front lines, they had managed to fight back to a certain extent, but even so, humanity was gradually being worn down. Those Valkyries were still only human after all. They could not avoid fatigue and attrition. No matter how hard they tried, it was impossible to effectively protect civilians from the first strike of a pillar attack, and faced with that unchanging situation, their will to fight gradually broke down. “This whole war will change dramatically. If Shirin is willing to help.” The vast majority of Valkyries were suffering that gradual erosion of their spirits, and Rusalka was no different. She gulped as Odin’s words toyed with that raw layer of her emotions. Her next words were halting and tentative. “With Shirin Brafford’s help… Is it somehow related to the way pillars are drawn to her and how she falls asleep when they appear?” “More precisely, the pillars are being drawn to her as a side effect of her ability to sense their presence. They don’t want to end up at a disadvantage. So…” “They are preemptively attacking in order to crush any possible advantage we might get.” Odin smiled as Rusalka reached the correct conclusion. If his explanation was true, then it would certainly explain why the pillars had chased after Shirin so tenaciously. And also— “It means there was something gained by your long and difficult flight,” Odin said. “If we…no, if Shiri was to die, then this sacred treasure would become irretrievable.” “Yes. As painful as it is to say, that is the truth of the matter.” Whether that made up for their suffering was another story, but it meant that there had been more gained by their flight than their mere survival. “If you seek a greater meaning than that, then there is no choice but to save all of humanity.” Claudia looked to Odin as he said that. “And thus, Gjallarhorn?” “And thus, Gjallarhorn.” Odin confirmed Claudia’s question. Then he shrugged his slender shoulders and glanced around the room. “If Gjallarhorn is restored, the tides of war will shift dramatically. However, there is not much time left for Natalie. Your subordinates should focus their efforts on preparing to defeat Mistletoe.” “However, even with Shirin, there’s no guarantee Mistletoe will actually appear…” Rusalka didn’t see a clear way forward. “No, you needn’t worry about that. Mistletoe will surely appear in the not-too-distant future. For no other reason than”—Odin’s eye narrowed as he looked to Shirin, examining the limp, lifeless girl from top to bottom with a hint of nostalgia in his eye—“Mistletoe rushes to the light that illuminates the world. Whether that be Shirin Brafford, who holds the key to restoring Gjallarhorn, or whether it be the first Valkyrie, who shouldered the hopes of all humanity, Amy Ostley.” “…Huh?” There was an immense loneliness to Odin’s words that quietly rocked Rusalka to the core. Ignoring Rusalka, who struggled to figure out why in her confusion, Odin stepped toward the Brafford sisters and held out his hands to them, one for each of the sisters. “Take my hand, Claudia, and I shall give you the wings to fight.” “…Yes…” Claudia took Odin’s outstretched left hand. And Shirin looked at his right hand. “Take my hand, Shirin. I will grant your wish.” “…My wish is…” “I know what it is. Who do you take me for?” Odin smiled as Shirin audibly gulped. And then, exhaling slightly, she firmly grasped his hand. Holding both of their hands, Odin nodded. “I shall take these two to Mimir’s well. I shall see you later, Alejandro.” “…Got it. I’ll leave it to you, then.” Alejandro nodded, and then Odin lightly tapped his toes against the floor. The next instant, light appeared on the wall of the office, and in the blink of an eye, a door appeared. It led to Odin’s room, Hlidskjalf. Every Valkyrie had passed through it and been taken to the mystical Mímisbrunnr—Mimir’s well—where they underwent the ritual to gain their blessing and become a Valkyrie. It was something Rusalka had experienced, and having made her decision, Claudia would surely receive her blessing in the same way. However, right now— “Give Rusalka an explanation, Alejandro. It’s painful to have my daughter looking at me with eyes like that.” “…You reap what you sow. Don’t go shifting responsibility to me.” “You’re the one who sowed this seed. Quite a long time ago in fact.” With that parting remark, Odin led the sisters through the door. As they passed, Claudia’s and Shirin’s determined expressions were both striking, but Rusalka’s focus had already turned away from them, focusing squarely on the familiar man standing across from her in his office. There was something she could not let pass in what Odin had just said. “Odin said Amy Ostley… Care to explain?” “” “If that is the Amy I know, then it would be strange. She said that she had given her family name to God. The moment she became a child of God, she had become just Amy.” Stoically hiding her true feelings, the First, Amy, had given Rusalka that explanation. At the time, she hadn’t given it too much thought. But that wasn’t true now. Now she wanted to know everything she could about Amy. “As always, your instincts are impressive. You’re right. Amy was actually my younger sister.” Now that quest included the similarity between Alejandro’s troubled expression and Amy’s mischievous grin. 3 “It was out of the blue when Odin suddenly appeared in our house. He had apparently appeared in her…in Amy’s dreams several times before, but she didn’t believe those dreams at all. The first time I met him was right around the time he started getting impatient and came to meet her directly.” Alejandro gradually started to talk at Rusalka’s urging. Telling the story of the time he and his sister, Amy, first met the god Odin. “We had lost our parents long ago in an accident, so it was just the two of us. That pain-in-the-ass god came barging in, telling me to give him my sister for the sake of humanity. Of course there was no way I was going to accept that.” “So then what? Don’t tell me you actually tried to punch a god?” “Whether he was a god or not, I wasn’t going to be beating up on someone who looked like that… I did try to throw him out, though, but that obviously didn’t work.” Odin had appeared in their home and suddenly launched into his explanation about saving humanity and how he needed Amy, ignoring their confusion and bewilderment. Naturally, this was all to make her the First Valkyrie and bestow his blessing upon her. “At the time, it was about a year after the pillars had appeared… I was an officer, and I could tell just how badly things were going for the human race. But I wanted to do everything in my power to keep my sister as far from the battlefield as possible.” “…That’s rather ironic. You wanted to keep her away, and yet, she had to become the tip of the spear in the war.” “Right… And the worst part of all is that when it mattered the most, I couldn’t do anything to help her. Not as a soldier and not as her brother.” Biting down on the shame he assuredly felt, Alejandro clenched his fist. His face was filled with an intense anguish that he would never ordinarily show anyone. And the object of the pent-up rage he kept hidden away was none other than himself. “Let me ask you something, Rusalka: How did Amy look to you?” “How…?” “Was she the kind of girl who flew carrying the weight of the world, bound by a sense of duty?” Rusalka was at a loss for a second as she considered his question. But she quickly found her answer. Amy was not a warrior driven by a sense of duty. “She was just a normal girl you could find anywhere. I’m sure the reason she was flying was not for anything as grand as the fate of the human race…” “It was to protect her friends and the people she knew…and her powerless brother.” Rusalka averted her eyes as she let her silence speak for her. If Amy had been thinking of anything when she flew, it wouldn’t have been the heavy responsibility she bore for the world or the future—it would have been her loved ones, whom she treasured most. And Rusalka had learned from none other than Alejandro that she herself was included in that list. She finally understood why Amy had left Alejandro that message, too. “So it was because you were her brother.” “…Or so I’m told.” “What? That’s a rather evasive response.” Alejandro averted his eyes and almost seemed like he was in agony as he responded. Rusalka was confused and lost as to what was causing that. He rustled his blond hair before lobbing another explosive revelation at Rusalka. “It’s a pathetic story, but I didn’t know it at the time. When Amy told me about you, I didn’t recognize Amy as my sister.” “…Huh?” “She told you, right? Amy offered up her family name to God. That wasn’t just some symbolic thing. It was the very fact that she was Amy Ostley. In other words…” “The fact that you were family disappeared?” Rusalka was stunned as she realized the tragedy that had befallen Alejandro and Amy. Two siblings who no longer knew each other, crossing paths on the battlefield— “I’m sure she remembered still. At the time, I had thought it was odd for a celebrity like the First to be so friendly with me…” “…I’m sure she was glad to be able to meet you again.” “…And I realized how pathetic a brother I was when Amy died while I was in the middle of that hellish retreat that they arbitrarily decided to call a miracle.” Alejandro scoffed, his words barely hiding the anger he felt at himself for his carefree survival while his sister was dying on the same battlefield. Or perhaps that anger had been the source of power that had allowed him to pull off his miracle. “—I couldn’t stop. I had to keep moving forward.” An awkward silence was on the verge of forming after he had finished his story, until he murmured that. Rusalka looked up to see Alejandro clenching his fist again. An intense resolve now inhabited his imposing, lionlike expression. “That time, Amy put her life on the line to grant humanity the means to fight the pillars. And this time, I’m determined to be ready to lead the counterattack against the pillars. I’ve gathered the pieces that have become the foundation of Sigrdrifa, and now…what comes next is crucial.” “Sir…” “Rusalka, the person I wanted to protect the most in this world is gone. I’m a worthless man who even forgot what it was he was fighting for. But even so…” Alejandro looked Rusalka straight in the eyes. She was entranced by his blue eyes, unable to speak. “There’s still something in this world that Amy wanted to protect.” “” “That’s why I fight. Why I kept fighting. Why I’m still fighting.” As that empathic statement became ever so slightly gentler by the end, Alejandro smiled. It was an almost childlike, carefree smile. Rusalka’s eyes narrowed as she felt deeply moved. Seeing that smile, she knew beyond a doubt that Alejandro and Amy were siblings. “We’re both comrades who failed to fight together with Amy. So—” “—This time, let’s be sure not to mistake who and what we are fighting for.” Alejandro looked just a little bit surprised as Rusalka finished his thought. He smiled again with a bashful mix of gratitude and embarrassment, nodding. But the smile soon slipped away, and he became serious once more. “If Odin’s prophecy is to be believed, this Gjallarhorn is going to change the war. Mistletoe is going to come calling to keep it from falling into our hands. When that time comes…” “We will have one final chance to challenge it.” Alejandro nodded. That moment was their chance to defeat Mistletoe. Their only hope to save Natalie. “You’re going to be busy, Rusalka. Odin said Claudia’s latent potential might rival Amy’s, but she’s not even a fledgling Valkyrie yet. We can’t count on her to fight so soon. This is going to come down to your Sigrdrifa.” “Yes, sir. I know. I will ensure everyone is prepared for the decisive battle. Myself included, of course.” Rusalka saluted, and Alejandro returned it. “I’ll be counting on you. I’ll be using my authority as a frontline commander, though I’m not looking forward to duking it out with the hardheaded bigwigs upstairs.” “That’s the job of the commander, sir. Do your best,” Rusalka responded. “And also, it’s not my Sigrdrifa. It’s your Sigrdrifa, sir. The Valkyries, me, all of it. It’s your Sigrdrifa.” 4 After exchanging promises to prepare for the coming battle, Rusalka left the commander’s office and returned to the infirmary. The planning would be important, true, but even more important was to not overlook anything. As she focused on that, she went to see Natalie. “…Ah, Rusalka…” She was greeted in front of the door by Alma, who was leaning against the wall. Alma looked down awkwardly. Rusalka made every effort to not let the heartbreak she felt at seeing Alma so weak and frail show on her face. “Alma? Why are you in the hall? Are you not going in?” “…Shannon is inside right now. I don’t want to get in the way.” “I see. Shannon…” Rusalka’s eyes narrowed as she studied Alma waiting at the door. Ordinarily, she was not the sort of person to stand around in the hall with nothing to do. The fact that she wouldn’t leave was because she couldn’t bear to be any farther away from Natalie for even a single second. Remembering how Alma and Natalie interacted when they first met, Rusalka was surprised to see how deeply Alma cared about Natalie. She had thought they got along well, but Natalie was the only one who outwardly made any effort to interact. “Rusalka…those sisters…?” Looking up at Rusalka, who had stopped next to her, Alma worked up the nerve to ask about the Braffords. It’s rare for her to show an interest in others was something Rusalka might have said if the circumstances were different. As things currently stood, Claudia’s and Shirin’s decisions would potentially decide Natalie’s fate. Her question was perfectly understandable. It sounded nice to call it a keen interest, but it was really more pitiful than that. “For now, the two of them have agreed to help, just like was discussed in the room. Claudia will become a Valkyrie, and Shirin will be helping to bring Gjallarhorn to completion. Lord Odin has taken the both of them to Hlidskjalf for that sake.” “…Odin did…” Hearing that, Alma’s throat clenched slightly. Rusalka furrowed her brow, sensing a hang-up when she said Odin’s name. Alma bit her lip as Rusalka looked questioningly at her. “—It might be my fault.” “Alma…?” “Because I didn’t follow through, Natalie is… Gh.” Alma’s emotions suddenly cracked in the middle of her explanation. Seeing big tears start to fall from her round eyes, Rusalka frantically pulled her into a hug. Nestling into Rusalka’s chest, Alma sobbed uncontrollably. “Odin told me… Before the battle today, in the hall…” “Odin? What did he…?” “‘Do not make the wrong choice.’” Alma slowly, falteringly explained what had happened through her tears. While Rusalka’s team was on their mission and Sigrdrifa was deploying to attack Mistletoe, Odin had left Alma with a prophetic warning right before she departed. With the battle over now and having found out about Natalie’s progressing transformation, Alma was dwelling on those words. What had the right choice been? “I didn’t attack Mistletoe.” “” “You were just barely in range of the explosion, so…” “You held back to prioritize covering our retreat.” Rusalka inhaled sharply, realizing the source of Alma’s tears and her regrets. She wanted to grab the small girl’s slender shoulders and tell her she was wrong. But she wasn’t sure her words would actually reach her. —Letting a precious person die because of a mistake in your judgment. Rusalka knew both the pain of that regret and the self-reproach that accompanied it better than most. “” She couldn’t think of anything to say as Alma continued sobbing. As both an adult and a superior officer, her powerlessness hurt more than she could begin to describe. “Huh, Major, Alma? What are you doing?” “Shannon…” Shannon’s eyes widened when she saw the two of them holding each other after she emerged from the room. But her surprise lasted only a moment. “Oh, I see.” She nodded to herself in understanding. “You have business with Natalie, right, Major? I’ll take Alma off your hands.” “But…” “It’s fine, Major. I already got to see the flight leader today.” Shannon flashed a lazy smile as she gently pulled Alma from Rusalka’s arms. Alma didn’t resist, still unable to stop crying. Rusalka felt insincere leaving Alma in that state to go see Natalie, but— “All you were doing is hugging her anyway, right? I mean, I can’t provide as much padding, but I can still lend Alma a shoulder to cry on, too.” “You… No, never mind. Please take care of Alma.” “Aye, aye. But me being flight leader is a one-day-only thing. Seriously, count me out…” Shannon thoughtfully acted laid-back as she gave Rusalka some much-needed help. She would be far more capable of comforting Alma. Still feeling a little bit reluctant, Rusalka left the two of them outside and knocked on the door to Natalie’s room. After getting permission to enter— “…Oh, now it’s the major. I suppose this must be what it feels like to be popular.” Natalie was lying on the bed, smiling, as Rusalka walked over to her. Her expression was normal, and Rusalka was awestruck by the depths of Natalie’s mental fortitude. Would she be able to stay as composed if she were put in the same situation? “I’m not sure how I should take it when you don’t even react to my joke.” “…Ah, sorry about that. You’ve always been popular, Natalie.” “That’s…not exactly the reaction I was hoping for.” Natalie’s cheeks reddened slightly as she ran a finger through her hair. Seeing the beautiful streaks of red hanging loosely down her back made Rusalka almost painfully conscious that this wasn’t how she usually wore it. Forgetting herself, Rusalka couldn’t tear her eyes away. “What?” Natalie narrowed her eyes. “Please don’t stare… Is my weakened state really so intriguing?” “No, it was just surprising to see you with your hair down. I don’t really look closely when we’re showering…” “If I noticed someone looking that closely in the shower, I would have been quite a bit more proactive in addressing it than I was just now!” That energetic response and everything about her reaction was so incredibly normal. It was hard to believe that an inescapable affliction was eating away at her from the inside of her chest. “…What did you talk about with Shannon?” Not wanting to let grief seep into her gaze, Rusalka switched to a different topic. But as if seeing right through her, Natalie smiled faintly. “Just pleasant nothings. Memories from training together, her future work… I’m sure Shannon will become second-in-command, so I have to make sure she is up to snuff.” “…I see. At least until you return, Shannon will be the most likely candidate to fill in for you. It would be a problem if the handoff didn’t go smoothly.” “Yes. After all, this squadron is filled with problem children, from Alma on down… Lisbeth and Leili still have quite a bit to learn as well.” As she went down the list of what she covered with Shannon, it was clear Natalie had been paying attention to each and every member of the squadron. That only drove it home even harder—she really was Sigrdrifa’s executive officer. “What about me? From your perspective, do you have any advice for me on flying?” “You, Major? From me? Nothing at all.” Rusalka grimaced slightly, feeling almost like she had been told she had no more room for growth. But Natalie dashed those thoughts with her next words. “Your flying is beautiful, Major… If I was to say anything, it would be to tell you that you were always the one I looked to for guidance.” “” “I’m only sorry I couldn’t fly with you to the very end.” Rusalka couldn’t muster a response as Natalie lowered her head apologetically. How long had she kept that grief-stricken thought hidden? How many times had she been forced to dwell on her fate as she concealed the plant growing in her breast from everyone? And how many times had she dreamed of being saved when she heard that her death might be prevented by defeating Mistletoe? It must have been a living hell… “…It is love.” “Eh?” Rusalka was blindsided by the seemingly out-of-place statement. Looking into Rusalka’s widened eyes, Natalie smiled like an adoring mother. “Love is why I can feel so at peace with everyone.” She had denied it with a bright-red face before, but now to hearten Rusalka, or perhaps to buoy her own spirits, she confidently declared it without any shame. Hearing that, Rusalka felt humbled and ashamed of her own fainthearted nature. Those words, those thoughts—they were inappropriate for the situation. Instead, she smiled. “I love you, too, Natalie.” “” For an instant, a difficult-to-describe emotion filled Natalie’s eyes when she heard that. But after the briefest of moments, she hid what she was feeling behind a veil. “Then that makes it mutual.” A breeze from the open window played with her hair a bit as she responded jokingly. Letting the breeze run through her hair, she half closed her eyes. “Please take care of Alma and Shannon and everyone else, Major.” Rusalka did her best to match Natalie’s courageous smile. She cursed the fact that she hadn’t practiced smiling enough to be sure she was doing it properly— 5 “—A pint of ale.” With a brusque order, Rusalka grabbed the glass that was placed in front of her with a death grip. She downed the foaming ale in one go, trying to drink away her shame. She hadn’t been able to say anything meaningful to Alma or Natalie. All she had done was force the Brafford sisters’ decision. And she was supposed to be the oldest of the group. “You’re drinking too much, Major.” “Yeah, that sort of drinking is bad for your health and for your heart.” Michelle and Roger, who were sitting there with her, both warned her about self-destructive drinking. Rusalka could only open up about what she was feeling to some extent with these two, whom she had known for so long and were in similar positions—especially when it came to her feeble complaints that she could never say in front of the other Valkyries. “Even when my subordinate’s facing such a tragic fate, I couldn’t say a single thing. And pathetic as I am, she ended up worrying about me instead. When will I ever start being like all the people who guided me?” It almost seemed like simply being in the bar had summoned the images of a number of people in the back of Rusalka’s mind. So many people she had met. Her family and the people living in her hometown, the officers who had trained her when she joined up, all the comrades with whom she had flown through the valley of death. To Rusalka, all of them loomed so large in her memories. Though she had managed to cobble together a fairly respectable service record, the people she looked up to still seemed so far away. “When did you two become such adults?” Rusalka demanded to know. “That’s a question just brimming with the passion of youth. Well, I suppose it’s not that strange to ask that in your situation,” Roger remarked. “…Are you saying I have the mentality of a little girl? That seems like an exaggeration.” “If you think that was rude of me, then you might want to consider taking back your question.” Rusalka bit her lip at not-so-subtly being told that she wasn’t behaving very maturely. Roger and Michelle glanced at each other with wry smiles as they continued to watch over the young squadron leader. “People grow up by dealing with their worries… Don’t worry, honey. I won’t leave you hanging with a cliché like that. Obviously, not having to worry about anything is ideal.” “” “You and the other Valkyrie girls have been forced into a position where you have to act like adults, so it’s only natural to have doubts.” “I…volunteered for this myself. And so did the other Valkyries.” Rusalka rejected Roger’s sympathy. Valkyries decided for themselves to join the fight. No one forced them into it. But could she really say the same for the Braffords? How could she claim that Claudia had freely chosen to become a Valkyrie and Shirin had agreed to help with Gjallarhorn after the emotional blackmail she had perpetrated? “What a cruel thing we are doing.” Without the pride of saying she had chosen her wings for herself, her self-consciousness had nowhere to go. If someone else were responsible for her making the choice to put everything on the line every time she took to the skies, then… “I wouldn’t be able to fly… I’m just not that strong.” “Rusalka…,” Roger murmured. “If I can’t say anything to help them down here on the ground and I can’t give them even the bare minimum of support up there, then what am I good for?” She wouldn’t be able to pay back the many friends she had lost or aid the Valkyries still fighting, nor would she become a cornerstone for building a new future for humanity. Those were all the reasons why she was afraid to fold up her wings. “The girls who are stronger than me—the ones who have a bright future ahead of them—they’re constantly being exposed to terrible peril, so why am I still clinging to the sky so desperately?” It didn’t make any sense. If it were at all possible for her to trade places with them, she would do it in a heartbeat. Amy’s death, Natalie’s transformation, the Brafford sisters being pressed into service—how much easier would it have been if she could have taken any or all of their places? “I don’t believe in fate or destinies and the like. If you say that you’ve chosen this path for yourself, then you shouldn’t be hiding behind fatalism.” As Rusalka’s thoughts unraveled from the effects of the alcohol starting to set in, Michelle broke in with her personal take. It was a logical philosophy that was fitting, given how she always gave her all within the confines of what she knew she could accomplish. Michelle had chosen to continue fighting through everything, even though she couldn’t become a Valkyrie. “Major, you have certainly watched many people go. There are few active second-generation Valkyries left, and there is no Valkyrie who has flown longer than you.” “” “I hate the idea of determinism. However, if there was any reason for you to serve as a Valkyrie longer than anyone else, it assuredly wasn’t to subject you to excessive grief.” Michelle’s words held a hidden intensity the likes of which she never showed. Rusalka blinked over and over as she digested that thought. “…I was well aware that I am an old Valkyrie, bu— Owww.” “Whoa there. Don’t get ahead of yourself. You’re still just a girl in her twenties.” Roger flicked Rusalka in the forehead as she struggled to respond to Michelle. Ignoring their horseplay, Michelle raised her glass and wet her lips. “I can’t afford to stay long and drink too much. Let’s get back to the base.” “Yes, I’m sure tomorrow will be busy, too… Come on, Rusalka. That means you, too.” Standing up to follow Michelle, Roger made sure to grab Rusalka by the collar and hoist her up as well. Easily holding her aloft, almost like a cat, he poked her sullen cheek. “You got to say all the complaints that you’ve just been bottling up inside, so you’re feeling a bit better now, right?” “Thank you for your concerns… Did the colonel put you up to this?” “‘Help her vent a bit,’ he said. Though I suspect he meant for me and Chief Technician Reever to take a load off as well.” Michelle shrugged, having realized what Alejandro had been after all along. As someone who spent a lot of time in the command post, she was yet another person who had been run around in circles by Alejandro many times before. Because of that, she knew deep down that for all his appearances, he was sharp and capable and didn’t make a habit of giving out pointless orders. “Regardless of what the colonel intended, next time, let’s raise a glass to victory,” Michelle suggested. “Oooh, well said. I’m all for it, of course. Let’s have a toast to celebrate once we make it through the battle for humanity’s sunrise!” Michelle and Roger smiled as Rusalka followed behind them silently, deep in thought. She had flown longer than any other Valkyrie, but what meaning or purpose did that have…? 6 From there, time became a blur, passing in the blink of an eye. Not wanting to waste even a single second, they prepared everything possible for the impending clash. But they were not restless as the moment drew near. “I will perform the ritual for restoring Gjallarhorn at noon five days from today—Mistletoe will undoubtedly appear to stop the ritual. That will be the start of our battle.” Odin had left them with that prophecy the day after whisking away the Brafford sisters. Holm base, and really all of humanity, had little choice but to believe Odin’s revelation, given the connection between the Braffords and Mistletoe, which had become clear. Because of that, the base was completely focused on increasing their readiness. That didn’t just apply to equipment or their Deus ex Machinas, either. The soldiers who would be participating were also busy hardening their resolve. “—As you are aware, this base will become the battleground for the decisive battle against Mistletoe in the coming days. You know full well the horror of its abilities. On top of that, if a certain god is to be believed, it’s not going to be in the mood to retreat this time. This battle won’t end until one side or the other is completely wiped out.” The morning Odin’s revelation had arrived, Alejandro gathered everyone on base and explained from the podium what position they had been placed in and the mission they had been given. Even the Valkyries, protected by Odin’s blessing, could not avoid being weakened by Mistletoe’s ability, and every other person who faced it would be entirely transformed within a few hours’ time. In previous encounters, Mistletoe had chosen to withdraw after sustaining a minor amount of damage. Because of that, humanity had been able to fend it off. But this time, things would be different. “As we expect Mistletoe will not be willing to retreat, the people at this base will inevitably be affected by its incomprehensible ability. There might be individual differences in how quickly the symptoms present, but every single person here will undergo transformation, guaranteed.” Once the tree began to sprout from someone’s body, they were already living on borrowed time. “I’ll be clear with you up front. If we win this battle, humanity will gain a powerful new tool. In the battles to come, having that tool will no doubt make a huge difference. But I will not order you to die here so that humanity can gain some advantage.” Alejandro held up his right palm so that everyone could see. “—Five minutes. Starting now, I will give you five minutes to think it through. The battle with Mistletoe will be dogged and intense. I’m going to win this fight, no matter the sacrifice required. So make up your mind. I won’t blame anyone who wants to leave. There won’t be any punishment, either. You are free to choose. However—” “” “Once these next five minutes are over, know that there won’t be a single moment’s rest from now until we win. I’ll grind each and every one of you down to dust if I have to in order to win. Your time starts now!” Speaking with great force and immense gravity, Alejandro gave the soldiers five minutes to make their choice. If many people left, it would obviously make things more difficult leading up to the decisive battle. Alejandro likely had some contingency plan lined up, but even so, it would still hurt their efforts. Silently praying for as few quitters as possible, they waited out the five minutes and soon realized— “Your time is up. You goddamn fools.” As he made that announcement at the podium, not a single soldier left their position. No one had chosen to leave. It was a far more impressive feat than could be done justice on paper. It signified their refusal to take even one step backward and a determination to use up their lives to the very last dregs in the coming battle. There was no greater unison possible than for every member on the base to be united in a singular goal. “—Let’s do this. I’ll provide the miracle we need to win!” “Oraaaaaa!” The roar that swelled in their throats almost seemed to shake the ground as the personnel of Holm base became one. And at that same time— “—Claudia Brafford, reporting for duty.” Wearing the IPO uniform, Claudia saluted Rusalka. It was a proper air force salute, proof of the pride she had for her father’s and grandfather’s service records. However, if she was going to be a Valkyrie, she would have to learn a different salute. And to teach her that, Rusalka and the rest of Sigrdrifa touched their right hand to their closed right eye as one. “—Mine eye for thee.” A sign of respect to the one-eyed god, Odin. That was the Valkyrie salute. Having completed the ceremony at Mimir’s well, Claudia was officially a Valkyrie. However, with the crucial battle only days away, there was some concern about having a rookie join the fray. Even while dealing with that preconception from those around her, Claudia passed her flight test with flying colors. “Ooooh, wow. She’s sure something.” The jet-black Deus ex Machina—Claudia’s Gladiator—danced through the skies like it owned them. Even Rusalka couldn’t help being surprised by how Claudia handled her plane with utter ease. It was nothing short of astonishing. Proof that common sense held no meaning at all in the face of true innate talent. Shannon, who was peering up from beside Rusalka, also seemed to be more exasperated than astounded. Odin had said it before that Claudia had talent with the potential to rival Amy. No one dared laugh that statement off as hyperbole anymore. Of course, Claudia wasn’t only exceptional in the sky. Back on the ground, she exhibited a well-ordered, soldierly behavior that Rusalka would have loved to instill in Lisbeth. “As a child, I pestered my father to tell me all about various rules and customs in the military. Shiri never had any interest, but I was always curious about Father’s work.” “…So when you sent me flying, that was something your dad taught you?” “You sent Lisbeth flying?” As Lisbeth grimaced at the memory, Leili’s eyes sparkled in curiosity. Her expression a little bitter at Lisbeth having said something she would have preferred not having come up, Claudia nodded. “Yes, Lisbeth’s movements are direct and easy to read. Are you like that in the air as well?” “Just gotta whoosh right up to ’em and make sure they can’t get away while you keep going wham until you take them down! You don’t need anything more than that!” “That’s a lot of sound effects, but it is clear you fight using instinctive tactics.” Leili responded with a pained laugh, while Claudia seemed to react with a sense of astonishment. Lisbeth’s face turned red as she exploded in annoyance at their exchange. Meanwhile, watching from a distance— “Do you really need me anymore with the three of them, Major?” Shannon flashed her trademark easygoing smile. “That again…,” Rusalka said, rejecting the suggestion that Shannon was obsolete. “All joking aside, though, Lisbeth and Leili, and Claudia, too…those girls are the real deal. I’m sure you realize that, too, Major.” Shannon cocked her head. Her analysis was correct as usual. Of the young Valkyries in Sigrdrifa, those three were head and shoulders above the rest in terms of latent potential. Lisbeth was rough around the edges, Leili was a little too cautious, and Claudia was lacking in experience, but— “They will surely become the strongest Valkyries since Amy,” Rusalka declared with confidence. “In that case, I wonder if God will give them some kind of nice name or something.” “Yes. Something appropriately fitting… Fitting…” As she watched the three of them talking, Rusalka put her hands together, almost as if in prayer. The battle that was brewing was not something that could be resolved by praying to God. They would have to fight using the information their patron god had given them. That was the only way out they could hope for. It was the least she could wish for. When the dust finally settled, she hoped those three would be able to smile and laugh together like this again. She hoped they could enjoy a similar moment as the people on the base smiled and watched over them from a distance. And— 7 “—How goes it, Rusalka? Not getting too tense the day before the all-important battle, are you?” Rusalka’s eyes widened in surprise at the greeting that awaited her in her room. It was the second trespass she had endured, but it would be pointless to ask how. Locks did not mean anything. Nothing and no one could stop a god. “Lord Odin…” “Don’t look so bitter. It is only natural to dislike a father who enters his daughter’s room without permission, but your room has no cuteness to it at all. It’s almost like a fugitive lives here.” “I have to move around quite often, so I have a limited number of personal effects… Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be…?” “Preparing a ritual to restore Gjallarhorn?” Rusalka was silent as he finished her thought. It had been five days since Odin’s prophecy. The fateful day had arrived. The hour of battle that God had foretold—noon—was just sixty minutes away. The base had heatedly prepared for the battle, and a solemn aura had fallen over it. Rusalka was no exception, harboring an intense anticipation of the fighting to come. She had returned to her room to retrieve the aviator cap she had gotten repaired when she ran into Odin, who was lying in wait. “” Last time she had stood face-to-face with a god in her room like that, she had been tasked with safeguarding Claudia and Shirin. She wanted to believe Odin wouldn’t burden her with an unreasonable demand with the important battle less than an hour away, but— “Worry not. It would be misleading to say this was one part of the ritual, but it is absolutely necessary. Shirin has requested your presence for the ritual that is about to begin. That is why I am here.” “My presence? And Shirin requested it…?” Rusalka was unsure how to respond to that bolt from the blue. The actual ritual to be performed for the restoration of Gjallarhorn was unknown, and it was a mystery why she was being asked to participate, but the oddest part was that Shirin had specifically chosen Rusalka. “I haven’t seen her in five days, and it isn’t as if I had spoken with her much before. So why me?” “Well now, you would be better served posing such questions to her, rather than me. Of course, if you refuse, I won’t force you…” “…No, I’ll come.” She hesitated for a moment, but she didn’t reject the request from Odin—no, from Shirin. Hearing that, Odin smiled slightly as he waved his hand. Another door appeared in the wall in a flash of light. Opening it, he invited Rusalka inside. She wasted no time passing through the mysterious door. “—Welcome. Ummm, it’s Major, right? Sorry about the sudden invitation.” On the other side, Shirin was spreading her hands wide in greeting as an enormous movie screen extended behind her. “” Rusalka needed a moment to process what was happening. There were many seats lined up around them in the dimly lit space, all facing the giant screen right in front of her. She had not been many times, but even with her minimal experience, she could recognize it was a movie theater. It was certainly an odd one, though—the room where Odin normally passed his time, Hlidskjalf, which was capable of looking out at every place in the world. Rusalka had set foot there once before, for the ritual where she became a Valkyrie. Shirin was standing there in a sheer white silk dress, like she was perfectly at home in that divine space. “What do you think? I look like a proper shrine maiden, right? ‘Start by looking the part,’ he said. God’s surprisingly lowbrow.” “You’ve got a mouth to you. It is true I said that, though. This appearance is befitting the values of the time. You need not be ashamed.” “Rather than cheeky little boys, I’m more into the sort who’s obedient and overly serious, like my beloved sister…” Shirin’s exchange with Odin was going over Rusalka’s head as she struggled to respond. Shirin had her fill of banter with the god before turning her blue eyes on Rusalka. “—I requested your presence, Major Rusalka Evereska.” “…So I’ve been told. May I ask why?” Seeing Shirin’s mischievous expression, Rusalka cut straight to the point without any playfulness. Shirin arched her brows slightly, putting her finger to her mouth. “Hmmmm.” For a moment, her gestures and the similarity of her face almost made it seem like Amy had been brought back to life. Both Claudia and Shirin looked incredibly similar to Amy, but in terms of their behavior, Shirin was far more similar to Amy, which made it all the more painful. “Because of that. Because you are the one who seemed the most likely to be hurt.” “—Ngh, reading my mind?” “Just a little bit. But I would bet basically anyone could have realized that much just now without any special powers.” Shirin smiled slightly as she looked at Rusalka. There was no malice in her smile at all, which did nothing to explain what she had just said. What did she mean by “the one who seemed most likely to be hurt”? “All you soldiers weren’t the only ones who had a difficult time these past five days, you know. Purification ritual this and taking in some divine spirit that, and having to fast, and being forced to smell and drink some super-odd things.” “What do you mean ‘odd’? It was a product from the time of gods.” “Honestly, I’m about to collapse from hunger even now… Sister’s cooking leaves a lot to be desired, so I always had to prepare meals.” Pressing her stomach, Shirin stuck out her tongue. Her each and every gesture seemed to project an odd fragility, and Rusalka was struck by an illogical unease. She still didn’t understand why and for what reason Shirin had wanted to see her— “Major, I’m choosing you to be my witness.” “” “If I chose my sister, she would probably be upset, and I wouldn’t want that to happen. So sorry, but that leaves you as the best choice by process of elimination.” “W-wait a second, please! I don’t understand what you mean. I recognize it’s a manifestation of your determination in the face of what you are attempting, but it almost sounds like…” Her throat clenched in dread as she desperately searched for the words to stop Shirin. Scared. She was scared. Not Shirin but Rusalka. Because Shirin looked just like Amy had that night when Rusalka had revealed the terrible thoughts hidden deep in her heart. Shirin looked like a person who possessed a very particular kind of resolve. “To complete Gjallarhorn, my existence is necessary. I have to give up the container that is Shirin Brafford and plant my foot firmly in the world of myths. In other words…” “—Your existence is going to disappear, consumed by a god?” Shirin smiled weakly, not denying Rusalka’s conclusion. Her smile was so frail and delicate—the smile of someone who had fully made up her mind. Rusalka remembered the pain of forgetting family that Alejandro had shared with her. Shirin’s resolve was the same as Amy’s. The only difference was— “The appointed person serves as the connection between the participant and humanity. And my child Shirin has chosen you for that role.” “I’m not your child. Quit making me repeat myself.” Shirin immediately grumbled about Odin’s explanation as Rusalka tried to process what she had heard. From that exchange, she had a bad feeling about the word connection— “What do you mean by that, exactly? What does it mean for me to serve as a connection like that…?” “Basically, me being offered up to God means everyone will forget about me, right? And that’s just sad. I want at least one person to remember me. And I’ve decided that one person should be you, Major.” “Why?! That doesn’t make any sense at all! Claudia is the person who cares most about you! The person you should want to always remember you is…” “Of course I want my sister to always remember me. But even more than that, I don’t want her to be sad and suffer because of me.” There was nothing but affection for Claudia in Shirin’s eyes as she held her hands to her chest. A loving warmth and tenderness for her other half, who had been by her side through her entire life. However— “I…can understand that logic… But then, why me?” “Because, Major…no, Rusalka…you are a witness.” Addressed by name and then told something she was not remotely expecting, Rusalka inhaled sharply. Seeing that reaction, Shirin narrowed her eyes, and for the first time, there was a loneliness to her gaze. “As the crazy girl about to be consumed by God, I’ll let you in on something. You are a person who sees things through to the end, Rusalka. You will see off a great many people after this.” “” “And I’m sure you’ve seen off more than your fair share as is. But instead of growing used to the loss, you just keep accepting ever greater pain. That’s why. I want to become one of your scars.” “” “I mean, I’m a cute little girl, after all. If I’m going to go, I want someone to really feel it, to really be hung up over me.” In the end, she slipped back into her teasing tone with a wink. Hearing her charming, painful, selfish wish, Rusalka exhaled slowly and deeply. It was a difficult thing to believe. Was she really just venting, hoping to enact a small revenge? Did she really just want—? “By any chance, do you hold a grudge against me for putting an end to the fugitive lifestyle you and Claudia pursued?” “Absolutely! Our lovey-dovey life on the run was all ruined thanks to you.” Shirin stuck out her tongue as Rusalka’s shoulders slumped. Rusalka had her own thoughts on the matter, of course. A feeling of wanting to grieve and a wish to make everything bend to some kind of logic, too. But she had long, long ago run out of ways to try to make that happen. And it was a bit strange, but being called a witness…after hearing that, a certain part of her could accept everything that was happening. She was a bystander who watched things unfold, forever unable to react to them herself. In a sense, that was a fitting role for her— “—I didn’t mean it that way, though.” “Huh?” “No, never mind. Just think of it as a final bit of harassment from me.” Putting her finger to her lip, Shirin refused to clear up Rusalka’s confusion. Then she extended her back in an exaggerated stretch. “Well then, I suppose we should get this show on the road. I don’t want to let it get gloomy with this depressing mood hanging over everything.” Breaking into a laugh, Shirin glanced over at Odin. The god shrugged and slowly stood up. “Is this sufficient for you?” “Not at all. Don’t get me wrong—I’m being forced to be a sacrifice to a god here.” “It’s not as if… No, I suppose being forgotten bears little difference from a true death. I should acknowledge as much myself.” “Oh, looks like you get it. Not that that’s enough for me to forgive you, though…” Shirin closed an eye in acknowledgment of Odin’s humble response. Just then— At some point, an onlooker, someone besides Rusalka or Shirin, who were standing in front of the screen, opened the great door behind the seats and set foot into the room. “…Commander…?” Raising a hand in greeting at Rusalka’s hoarse question, Alejandro slowly stepped down the stairs. As he descended, he gradually made his way to the front of the theater. “Wait a minute,” Shirin said sharply. “Why is he here? Rusalka was the only one I chose…” “Sorry for dropping in uninvited. However, I’m sure it won’t be a problem for me to be here, right, Odin?” Standing next to Rusalka, Alejandro placed a hand on her slender shoulder. When he touched her, she finally noticed that she had been trembling. Odin looked down slightly. “Forgive me, Shirin. This man is special. He has my permission to enter here freely.” “Even if you say that, do you really expect me to just accept that and meekly say, Oh, I see…?” Shirin was uninterested in this selfish conclusion contrived by those two men. However, she decided to give up on her argument just as she finished her thought. Turning her gaze to Alejandro, she said, “Colonel, is there any chance that you’re also…?” “Well now, I just came to check in during a brief lull in preparing for the battle… Apparently, my family has a distant connection with the Brafford family. I don’t suppose that might be reason enough for me to be here?” “—Ah.” Rusalka subconsciously reacted to that. It was entirely reasonable to suspect their families were somehow connected, given how similar Amy and the Brafford sisters looked. However, Rusalka was the only one surprised by that fact. Alejandro, who had shared that revelation, was calm, as was Odin. Shirin too, naturally. Taking a step forward, Shirin drew closer to Alejandro and struck her pale fist against his chest. “I’m not some replacement for your little sister. Please don’t say such selfish things, big brother.” “I wouldn’t dream of it. Amy was much more ladylike and refined.” That was a lie. Shirin’s mischievous smile was like a mirror image of Amy’s. Shirin stuck out her tongue at that obvious lie. “Liar… Bye-bye.” “Yeah, take care.” Putting his hand on her head, Alejandro caressed her blond hair. Feeling ticklish, Shirin pulled back and spun around. With that, she went toward the screen—no, beyond the screen. That was where Mimir’s well lay. That was where the ritual would be performed. “” Rusalka could not think of anything to say as Shirin’s dignified figure receded. Accompanied by Odin, Shirin walked forward, marking her farewell with the human realm. “Is there anything? Anything you want to tell Claudia?” What suddenly spilled out were words that she knew touched a tender spot for Shirin. Hearing that, she stopped. But she did not turn back. “Don’t tell Sister anything… That’s exactly why I’m doing this.” That decisive statement was what made Rusalka finally realize the shape of her resolve. Shirin started walking again, and watching her grow more distant, Rusalka gritted her teeth. It was strange to see something other than resignation in her when she had finally given in after having struggled against the fate she had been shouldered with for so long. Rusalka finally understood the reason why—Shirin was going in order to save her sister. Claudia did not balk at becoming a Valkyrie for the sake of her younger sister, who was targeted by pillars. And this was the best thing Shirin could do for her older sister, who would have to fly in dangerous skies countless times going forward. She was becoming the foundation of Gjallarhorn in the hopes of making those future battles even just a little bit less dangerous for the Valkyries fighting the pillars. But the loss of Claudia’s reason for fighting in the first place was getting things so badly out of order— “I won’t forget you!” Rusalka suddenly cried out. “” “No matter what may happen, I will remember you and your determination. I will never forget how much you sacrificed to achieve your wish.” That much was absolute. Even if it came at the cost of her life, she would never allow herself to forget that. Even if Shirin was forgotten by everyone, left behind by the person she so desperately wanted to save, never known to the world that she protected— “I will remember. Because I am a witness.” Putting her hands to her breast, Rusalka swore that to Shirin, who never stopped walking. And then the young girl was standing in front of the white screen. Stretching her hand out to the screen that would allow her to pass with a single touch, right before she crossed over to the other side— “Thank you, Rusalka.” With those final words, Shirin disappeared. Even in the end, she hadn’t turned back. But Rusalka would never forget the damp glimmer on her downturned cheek. Rusalka Evereska alone would remember the crime humanity had committed in forcing a girl barely even fifteen years old to make such a cruel and painful choice. “I will start the ritual now. Once it begins, Mistletoe will surely notice and come immediately to interrupt. I cannot move during the ritual. Don’t expect any help,” Odin announced as he stood partway through the screen. It would not be accurate to say Rusalka had been eagerly awaiting it, but this meant the decisive battle would finally begin. “Fight with all you have, humans. Odin’s blessing is with you.” Leaving that final message, Odin also disappeared into the screen. Having watched all that happen, Rusalka’s shoulders relaxed, and a hand gently settled on top of her head. “…Why is your hand there?” “You did well not to cry there, Rusalka.” “I won’t cry. I’m a full-grown woman. And please stop patting my head.” Knocking away his arm, Rusalka glared at Alejandro. He scratched his unshaven cheek beneath her sharp stare. “Sorry, sorry. First impressions leave a powerful mark is all.” “If you like, I can re-create the brawl at the pub with you.” “Ha-ha-ha, please spare me. After all…” Alejandro looked up, and just then a broadcast echoed in the theater. Through some kind of mechanism, the announcement that could be heard in Holm base was also piped into the theater. “—A pillar of light has appeared fifty kilometers northwest of the base! Visual confirmation of the target Mistletoe! Prepare for combat!” Hearing Michelle’s voice coming from the command post, Rusalka and Alejandro looked at each other. And then they both started sprinting at the same instant, kicking open the great doors to the theater and returning to the base. They leaped out into a hallway. To the right was the command post and to the left the hangar—that was where they parted ways. “Go kick their asses, Rusalka. Show them what you’ve got.” His strong, resolute hand pushed her forward as she accelerated down the hall. She didn’t look back, keeping her eyes straight ahead, still seeing the image of that brave girl. “It’s not what I’ve got. I’ll show them the strength of your Sigrdrifa.” With that, she ran straight ahead to get up into the sky as soon as possible.
Chapter 24
58 min read