“As in, like, envy or admiration, a sort of ‘I wish I could be like that, too’ feeling! Please believe me!” The girl’s expression changed in the blink of an eye as she stepped closer to Rusalka and desperately pleaded her case. Overwhelmed by the intensity of it, Rusalka simply nodded. “Oh, thank goodness. There are just so many beautiful people who don’t have any self-confidence. Or maybe they just like it that way… Well, I like that, too, I guess.” The girl folded her arms and started murmuring to herself. Rusalka didn’t really understand, but she instinctively straightened her back and held her head high. “Apologies for getting flustered. So then, what business did you have with me?” asked Rusalka. “Eh?” “You said you asked about me around the base. And you mentioned you’ve wanted to meet me for some time. However, I’m afraid I still don’t really know why.” “Ah, right. That makes sense. After all, I’m the one who wanted to see you.” Saying that, the girl laughed at herself a little and then rapped herself on the top of her head. Her expression softened as she peered up at Rusalka with her red eyes. “Rusalka Evereska—you’re the top of the list when it comes to Second Valkyries at this base, right?” “………And who are—?” “My name is Amy.” The girl interrupted the question, pointing to herself as she said her name. Rusalka considered the name for a moment, but it didn’t ring any bells. Sensing her confusion, Amy broke into a smile before continuing. “Even if you don’t know the name, you should recognize me by another title, right? I’m the First.” “—!” Hearing that word whispered playfully, Rusalka dramatically shot her eyes open. She could see her shocked expression reflected in Amy’s crimson eyes. Amy stuck out her tongue mischievously. “I’m the First Valkyrie, Amy. I’ve been wanting to meet you for a long time now.” 3 “Since I’m always moving from front to front, I never get a chance to make any friends. I’m zooming to all these different places, but I never get time to sightsee, either.” “Oh, I see.” “So I’d at least like to be able to get along with the other Valkyries on the base.” “Oh, I see.” Rusalka continued replying with vague interjections as Amy beamed beside her. Her first impression of Amy was that she was a cheerful girl. And she talked quite a lot. Lively and talkative, a face that comes alive with emotion: She’s like the exact opposite of me. “Ah, am I talking too much about myself? You can tell me if it’s getting annoying.” “No, you’re still in a tolerable range.” “That’s a little too honest!” “Just kidding.” “Huh? Oh, you were kidding! …Wait, which part?” Amy looked uneasy as Rusalka remained silent. Just a little payback for that upsetting remark earlier. It isn’t just a reaction to finding out she’s the First Valkyrie. I think. Naturally, she didn’t suspect Amy was making it up. Not out of any faith in her character, of course. The reality was much simpler than that. To pretend to be the First Valkyrie would be the same as betraying all humanity. “—It’s not really that big of a deal, honestly.” “Huh?” Rusalka was taken by surprise. “Sorry, sorry. Don’t worry—you didn’t say anything out loud. It’s just… Well, I thought I could tell what you were thinking by the look on your face. It was just a hunch.” “…A hunch? I have a bit of a reputation for keeping a straight face.” Rusalka’s neutral, impassive expression was an unchanging constant. Even her family had commented on it with some regularity since her childhood. She was aware of the issue and was always trying to make a change, but it was rather difficult for her to achieve much progress on that front. The other Valkyries in her flight had all panned her efforts, too, with reviews like “Your face is scary” and “You’re so stiff” and “Your jokes are really bad.” “What does that last one have to do with anything?” “You can tell that much just by looking at my face? …Does that mean my efforts are starting to bear fruit?” “Uhhh, sorry for getting your hopes up, but it’s probably just that my intuition is really good. I wouldn’t get too confident in yourself there.” “What a magnificent opportunity I’ve been afforded. It is not every day someone comes along and tells people not to have confidence in themselves…” Despite her best efforts, Amy’s careful response left Rusalka crestfallen. Amy just kept smiling as she amusedly watched Rusalka touch her cheeks, trying to physically soften her expression by massaging the muscles in her face. Currently, Rusalka was showing Amy around the base. Right after their initial meeting, Amy had asked for a tour, saying she wanted some help, since she’d just arrived and didn’t have a guide. After quickly confirming with the base commander, Rusalka had agreed to take her. “Asking command was one thing, but I sure didn’t expect you to give me the full-body pat-down.” Amy seemed bemused. “It’s a necessary formality. No one gets special treatment.” “Mm-hmm. That was definitely a new experience. And I might even have enjoyed it a little bit. But…” Amy paused, giving Rusalka a bit of side-eye. “You could have just said you’d be my guide on the spot. You sure like keeping people in suspense.” “That doesn’t sound like a very flattering evaluation… But as I said before, it’s required, even as a formality. That said, I do agree it is a rather unproductive precaution…” “No, not that—you should have recognized me on sight, right?” She waved her hand, her eyes still challenging Rusalka’s innocent response. But Rusalka did not understand what she was implying at all. Seeing Rusalka’s furrowed brow, Amy cocked her head in confusion. “Wait, did you really not realize?” “Unfortunately, I still don’t. What are you talking about?” Having said that, though, a thought crossed Rusalka’s mind. There were certain rumors circulating in the army’s ranks. “Are you perhaps referring to the Monthly Einherjar, which is supposed to start publishing soon?” “Ugh… So you know about that, too…” “It has become a subject of gossip here on the base. From what I’ve heard, it’s supposed to have reports on the conditions of various fronts as well as the attributes and special traits of pillars that can be found in those areas, so that information can be shared more freely within the armed forces.” “Y-yeah, that’s right. That’s right, but there’s also this other thing…” Amy poked her fingers together and blushed as she turned away from Rusalka. That gesture was overflowing with cuteness, but she could guess why Amy was so embarrassed. “…I must admit I still don’t understand. On an unrelated note, wasn’t there also something about there being a gravure shot of a Valkyrie on the front cover?” “It’s not unrelated at all! You’re doing this on purpose, right?!” “—? No, I have no idea what you mean. By any chance, are you the one on the cover?” “You betcha! I mean, I am the First, right?! Doesn’t it make perfect sense that I’d be the first one featured for something like that? I’m not gonna lie, though. I definitely got a little too into it, and now that I think about it, this is actually super embarrassing!” Amy stomped her foot as she turned red. Then she crouched down and cradled her head. Everything about her was constantly in motion, not just her expressions. There was something about it that Rusalka found charming, like she was an adorable little animal. She held out a hand to Amy, who was a bit preoccupied at the moment. “Ahhhhh, why did I take a job like that…?” “Everyone has experienced a youthful indiscretion or two. I think it is entirely acceptable to set aside the moment’s embarrassment and forget about it.” “Even if I wanted to forget about it, the photos are still going to stick around forever, right…?” Taking Rusalka’s hand, Amy stood up, staring at her with wide, puppy-dog eyes. Seeing her imploring gaze, Rusalka thought about how to respond. “That’s right. It’s amazing what technology can do these days.” “How is that supposed to make me feel better?! …You’d understand if you had to do a photo shoot, too.” “—? If it was a request from military affairs, then I would comply.” “You say that now… Wait, your eyes are dead serious! You really are a soldier to the core!” “Please don’t compliment me too much. It will all go to my head.” “I wasn’t complimenting you… I really wasn’t, but… I mean…” Rusalka cocked her head, not quite certain why Amy seemed so frustrated. Seeing that, Amy sighed, sensing this line of conversation wouldn’t get her anywhere. “Still, judging by that response, I guess you really can’t tell just by looking… We’re both Valkyries, so I thought it was something you’d be able to tell at a glance. I mean, I can.” “That’s…” “Hmm, that might explain a bunch of the weird reactions I’ve been getting. That would be a good reason why everyone was like, What is this girl going on about? Guess that was my bad.” Amy nodded to herself, looking very convinced, but this was all news to Rusalka. “You can tell if someone is a Valkyrie or not just by looking at them? How?” “There’s just a sort of feeling, ya know? If you look at me, can you sort of make out a bit of faint light? Do you feel it?” “…No…” It was a supremely vague explanation, but after studying Amy closely, Rusalka shook her head. Amy’s smile was dazzling, but that was something lots of people had, and that didn’t seem to be what she had been talking about, either. For whatever reason, the feeling Amy had described was not something Rusalka could perceive—and she found that perfectly normal. She didn’t try to push herself. She simply accepted it as is. That’s just the difference between the First and us second generation— “Well, it’s not that impressive to begin with. I guess we can chalk it up as a special privilege for the eldest sister.” “…You have siblings?” “Yes, quite a lot of them—including you.” “” “I mean, I’m the First, and you’re a Second, right?” Amy flashed a big smile. “That makes us sisters.” Rusalka was at a loss. She had never thought of it that way before. Her fellow Valkyries were certainly comrades who shared the same fate, but the idea of calling them sisters was something beyond her imagination. Amy peered into Rusalka’s eyes as she reeled from the shock of that unexpected line of thought. “Feeling embarrassed?” “I’m astonished…or rather, perplexed? I’m sorry; I can’t find the appropriate words. But if I was forced to describe it…” “Go on…” “I’m almost certainly older than you, so you can’t be my older sister.” “Oh, come on! How unfeeling can you be?” Amy puffed out her cheeks, unhappy with Rusalka’s answer. “Think about it. Theoretically, it would be totally possible for you to have a stepmother who’s younger than you, right? If we’re not talking about blood relations, then you can absolutely have an older sister who just happens to be younger than you. Am I wrong?” “I don’t exactly want to imagine a stepmother younger than me, either.” “I get where you’re coming from, but come on. Throw me a bone here.” For whatever reason, Rusalka’s response was not enough to make Amy stop pouting. But she also wasn’t the sort of person to stay like that for long. “Still, I was expecting that to be a rock-solid finisher. If you’re still not convinced, I’ll have to think about it some more for later. My family always said I get too caught up in the heat of the moment and get ahead of myself.” “I see.” “I’m not sure how to feel about you accepting that explanation so easily…” Her expression, which had just returned to normal, suddenly wilted again. She really did wear her heart on her sleeve. Setting aside the matter of whether she got too far ahead of herself, Rusalka would certainly agree that, if nothing else, Amy was a bundle of energy. Amy’s ability to pull other people into her pace was surely a natural quality. But that wasn’t why Rusalka had trouble dealing with her. “Oh yeah, can you show me the hangar, too?” Amy’s expression changed as her attention shifted to the next thing that caught her interest. She was looking out a window in the hallway to where the base’s hangar was visible outside. Inside, there were fighters being carefully prepared to take off at a moment’s notice as well as— “—Deus ex Machinas.” Rusalka still felt a sense of trepidation when she uttered that name. This time was no exception. Lined up next to the fighters loaded with cutting-edge equipment, which would majestically dance through the sky at the hands of highly trained pilots, were ancient propeller planes. They were the only craft actually capable of fighting against the invaders that controlled the skies. The products of the furious arms race surrounding the two World Wars were practically antiques now. Relics that once ruled the skies in a bygone era. These were Deus ex Machinas, the planes that made a Valkyrie a Valkyrie. The same wings of battle clad in heavenly light Rusalka had seen on that hopeless day. “Right, right. My wings should be getting here soon. And I never really get a chance to take a close look at the other girls’ wings, either.” Not noticing Rusalka’s shudder, Amy squinted as she looked out at the hangar in the distance. Seeing the excitement swell in Amy’s heart as she smiled made Rusalka’s chest ache. But she quickly ignored the pain and nodded. “…Then I’ll show you around the hangar. The rest of the flight should be gathering before long.” “Right, that! I was looking forward to that, too! When it comes to Second Valkyries, your flight has a really good reputation! I can’t wait to hear what sort of things you all talk about!” Amy’s red eyes glimmered with open curiosity as she held her hands together in front of her chest. “This way,” Rusalka said before heading out toward the hangar. She took long, unhurried steps, walking slightly in front of Amy. That way, she could hide the expression on her face as her lips moved silently. “—First.” The whispered word faded in her mouth before it had a chance to slip out. 4 Valkyries were the flare that God granted humanity to signal the start of their counterattack. When written out plainly like that, it was hard to ignore the dubiousness of it all. That being said, it was undeniably true that Valkyries were a beacon of hope delivered by God. Unable to so much as resist the pillars that had suddenly appeared, humanity was forced into a one-sided retreat. Region after region was robbed by the unprecedented draining effect, and humanity had cowered in fear of their impending destruction. Then, without warning, a being calling itself a god made contact with humanity in their darkest hour. “Who am I? Is this really the time for a debate? Who would you have us claim to be? The Count of St. Germain? Grigori Rasputin? Nostradamus? Aleister Crowley? Unfortunately, we are none of them. They were all human, but I, we, are not. We are a god. “I am the great god Odin. At least one among you has surely prayed to God for help in this, thy moment of need. In response, I shall save the human race. Or more precisely, I shall grant you the means to fight.” The heads of state from around the world were gathered at an international conference to discuss how humanity would deal with the menace they faced when a figure somehow slipped through all the strictest layers of security and addressed them in a solemn, arrogant tone. It was a wild statement that should have been laughed off, but as the self-proclaimed god said, this was no time for drawn-out deliberations, never mind jokes, and so the gathered heads of state made a shameless but resolute decision—to hear the god out. And that choice was, without doubt, a heroic decision. Because it was the choice that secured a chance for survival. The self-proclaimed god, Odin, had granted them the means to challenge the menacing pillars of light: Valkyries bearing the wings of war. The one thing in the world that could stand against the pillars, and humanity’s greatest weapon. “—The First has gotten pretty attached to you, Rusalka.” Rusalka furrowed her brow as she and her comrade changed in the locker room. This wasn’t a particularly praiseworthy reaction, but she couldn’t help it. Lately, this look of disapproval had been appearing on her face with increasing frequency, to the point that even she was getting tired of it. “There’s that crease in your forehead again. I’m sure you have a lot to worry about, but at this rate…” “I’ll become a wrinkly, scowling old lady, I think you said. And also how the face is a window into your personality. I remember.” “Just remembering isn’t enough. You have to actually do something about it, too. Sheesh.” The second-in-command of her flight, Xenia sighed as she rested her hands on her slender waist. Her wavy brown hair had the same energy as her strong-willed blue eyes. Her amazing figure was normally hidden under her uniform, but when she was in just her underwear, it was impossible to ignore, and Rusalka wasn’t sure where she should look. “Are you listening to me, Rusalka?” “Yes. I really am listening, but can we finish this once we’re done changing? Even if we are both women, you shouldn’t just stand around exposed like that.” “What do you mean? We already shower together in the same room.” “That is nothing more than us following army regulations.” “Fine, fine.” Faced with Rusalka’s entirely earnest plea, Xenia responded perfunctorily, leaning back against a locker without bothering to continue getting dressed. “Anyway, about the First, it seems like she’s going to be staying on the base for a while. Apparently, the plan is to have her work with our flight and see how much it expands our tool kit.” “—. I see. How are the others taking it?” “Canan and Vicky are all for it. Those two tend to get worked up over whatever the latest thing is, and they’re excited to meet the original Valkyrie herself. It’s kind of cute.” “Then we should be careful to watch out that the First is not a bad influence on them. Thank you for the warning.” “Don’t even sweat it. I am second-in-command, after all.” Xenia’s round eyes drooped slightly, making her look almost a little bit lonely. But even so, Rusalka could not respond with anything other than a second “thank you.” With that, Rusalka finished changing and started to leave— “Hey, Rusalka… Are you okay?” Xenia called out just as Rusalka was about to leave. For a moment, Rusalka was stopped in her tracks by the vague question, but she composed herself with a steely resolve.
Chapter 3
17 min read