"The theme we will discuss today is 'Infiltration Tactics.' Nowadays, trench warfare is rarely seen, and many of you might consider this tactic a moldy antique of sorts..."
The morning class on "Introduction to Tactics" is both interesting in content and carries a high weight in the grading, so normally I would be eagerly taking notes and listening attentively. But right now, I just don't feel like it at all.
(Why is Ruri-nee a military academy instructor?!)
Standing at the lectern is Washimine Ruri, the head of the armed secret police who had interrogated me just the other day (though, to be honest, it ended up being just small talk because I fell asleep).
"Now then, why has the tactic of 'trench warfare' not been adopted on today's battlefields? Inoue, could you share your opinion?"
Ruri, who was teaching, pointed her finger at Inoue and asked her to speak.
Suddenly called upon, Inoue stood up, her face slightly pale.
Inoue was cheerful and popular among her peers, and although she excelled in practical subjects like military drills that required leadership, she was somewhat less adept at theoretical subjects like "Introduction to Tactics."
"Y-yes. Um... well..."
Inoue fell silent, and for a moment, tension filled the classroom.
If it were a strict instructor, they would be shouting, "You fool! You can't afford to make such leisurely decisions on the battlefield!"
"Ahh, sorry, sorry. I was being too formal, huh? It's okay to make mistakes, so just answer casually. It won't affect your grades anyway."
With a single word from Ruri, the tense atmosphere in the lecture room instantly lightened.
After Inoue, relieved of her tension regained her usual vivacity and spoke her thoughts clearly, Ruri naturally encouraged the students' thinking and understanding of tactics by asking additional questions.
Unlike other instructors, Ruri's lectures were not one-sided knowledge transfers; they adopted an interactive style that called on the students.
Her elective class, which requires active participation, became a topic of discussion among students, and even students from other grades attended, with some having to stand due to lack of seating.
Every time she walks around the podium, passionately speaking to her students, her dark purple hair flows smoothly, and her ample bosom sways gently.
This world, with its inverted sense of beauty and ugliness, is something I would drool over, but right now, I feel indifferent even to that.
It was just about a week ago that Ruri was appointed as a "visiting professor" at this military academy.
However, when she stood at the lectern, she delivered her lecture with such poise, as if she had been engaged in this work for many years.
After the bell signaling the end of class rang and the students filed out of the classroom, Erika and I were left behind at Ruri's request.
"Hey Kai, over here! Come a bit closer to the front. That's it!"
"Ruri... Wajihou-sensei, it's not appropriate to call me that on campus."
When I raised a faint protest, Ruri stuck out her tongue and said, "Well, as long as it's not in front of everyone, right?"
Erika looked at us with a piercing gaze as we exchanged such friendly banter.
(No, Erika, I'm not cheating, so please don't look at me like that. Also, please stop making fists under the long table; it's scary...)
"Well then, this is a formal introduction for you, Ms. Jōgasaki. I am Ruri Washimine, and I will be taking up a guest position at this Central Military Academy starting this semester. Currently, I am working in the Security Bureau on counterintelligence-related tasks, but I have previously handled various military branches. Nice to meet you."
After briefly introducing herself again, Ruri said, "I think both of you know that from the spring semester, one dedicated instructor will be assigned to each of the two students who have completed the field trip," and handed each of us a thick stack of paper documents.
On the first page of the document, the words "Guidance Policy" are written in large letters, but could this be...
"I have become the dedicated instructor for the two of you. I plan to give you strict guidance starting this semester, so please take care."
Ruri said that and made a big smile.
◆◆◆◆
Having received a brief lecture from Ruri about the full-time instructor system and future guidance policies, I left the military school building and headed home with Erika.
(Being able to have the beautiful, kind, and familiar Ruri-nee as my advisor should be a happy thing, but... I can't shake this bad feeling.)
Why on earth did she get assigned to this military academy? She should be busy with her counterintelligence work at the Security Bureau.
For some reason, an uneasy feeling wells up in my chest, and I can't help but let out a deep sigh, "Haa~."
(Oh, I shouldn't be sighing like this when Erika is right next to me.)
I pulled myself together and was about to ask Erika, who was walking beside me with a serious expression, "Where should we go this weekend?"
"Is it okay now... Kai, come here for a moment."
"Huh?"
Without responding to my confusion, Erika forcibly pulls my hand and takes me behind the school building.
What's with the sudden change?
Hey, hey, are you seriously going to start forcing the play again like before?
"I don't mind being forced, but I've told you before, Erika, that doing it on campus is not a good idea," he started to say.
However, pressing a small magic stone for simple communication against her temple while keeping an eye on her surroundings, her expression looks desperate.
Sensing something unusual, I decided not to resist her and quietly followed her without a word.
"Erika? What on earth is going on...?"
"I'm sorry, please wait a little longer."
The thicket right behind the school building is dense and dim even during the day.
As if wary of being followed by someone, Erika repeatedly looked back to confirm there was no one around, and finally relaxed her expression.
"You guys, that's enough."
When Erika muttered into the void, the surrounding space subtly warped in an instant, and one by one, hooded wizards appeared.
"Whoa, suddenly people?!"
"Don't worry, Kai. They're all under the control of the Jōgasaki."
They gradually became clearer, as if they had emerged from a transparent veil.
(Is it optical camouflage using
Before I could voice my doubts, one of the magicians walked over to us.
"Miss, Mr. Todo, I apologize for the wait. I have arranged for an invisible armored car near the back gate, so please head there first..."
The magicians cast the
Thanks to being rendered invisible by the same wavelength of magical energy, those who are invisible can see each other without any issues, and we can also confirm the appearance of the girls who have become transparent without any problems.
While walking briskly, Erika asked the leader of the guard, a magician, "Is the decoy ready?"
"No problem. Now is the chance to use the
(Everyone seems somewhat tense and on edge, making it hard to interject... but since they seem to be on Erika's side, it shouldn't be a problem.)
Following their guidance, I got into the vehicle prepared in the back alley, and it started moving briskly.
After passing through the center of the imperial capital, Erika finally let out a sigh of relief and turned her body towards me.
"Hey Kai, I'm sorry for not consulting you beforehand, but... I'm planning to head to the Jōgasaki family home, to mother."
"Uh, when you say Erika's mom... whoa, seriously?"
Speaking of Erika's mother... isn't she that psycho woman who suddenly drugged me with sleeping pills?!
I remember that night and can't help but tense up.
Erika's mother—the head of the Jougasaki family, Kyouka—I've only met once during the marriage ceremony.Although she looks beautiful and has an intelligent and calm impression, resembling her daughter Erika, to be honest, my impression of Kyoka is not very good.
It might have been because she was thinking of her cute only daughter.
But to me, she's just a seriously dangerous psycho woman who drugged me without even listening to what I had to say.
(...Well, when I think about it, Erika, who suddenly put a "collar of subservience" on me while I was drugged and tried to rape me, is quite a piece of work too.
This strong insistence might surprisingly be a tradition of the Jougasaki family.
It was fortunate that the person was Erika, whom I had feelings for from before, but it's only natural for me to be wary of Kyoka, who has put me through experiences that would normally leave someone traumatized.
Seeing me fall silent, Erika deeply bowed her head with an expression of deep remorse.
"I'm really sorry. ... We won't do anything like that again, and we won't let anyone else do it either."
"Ah, well, it turned out a bit strange, but I was happy to be in a relationship with Erika. I just got a bit put off by how pushy she was..."
"You're right... Even though I say I'm reflecting on my actions, I still forcibly took you out again. How selfish can I be..."
Saying that, she looked down.
Seeing him with tears in his eyes, it seems like he's genuinely down.
(No, usually you're too delicate for someone who's so pushy?! Well, it's typical for Erika to be annoyingly self-deprecating.)
To help her change her feelings, I will move the conversation forward.
"Why are you suddenly going to your mother again? It's a bit abrupt for a formal marriage greeting."
"It's not a marriage proposal, um, well, I do think about it eventually, but this time I have something else I want to discuss with mother..."
Just a moment ago, she was looking down with a gloomy face, but now, with the word "marriage," the fresh-faced Erika blushes, looking adorable.
Honestly, that expression that changes constantly is never boring to watch.
But as I am also interested in her "consultation topic."
When I prompted her by asking, "What do you want to talk about?", her expression turned serious and she began to speak.
"...I might be, no, maybe even Kai might be...under surveillance by the secret police."
"Secret police?"
"Ah. I don't know the detailed reason yet either. But for the past few days, it seems like suspicious women have been lurking around me, keeping a watchful eye."
"That can't be true."
"No, I never thought it would be me either."
Saying that, she took out a photo.
"This is..."
What is shown in the photo is the state of a room that has become a complete mess.
Books and clothes are haphazardly thrown around, and furniture shows vivid signs of being slightly scorched by high-output magical power.
"Yesterday, when I got home, my dorm room had been ransacked. It was as if someone deliberately left magical traces behind to show they had broken in."
"But even if you're going to monitor, why like this...?"
"It's a technique these guys are good at, called 'psychological invasion.' They try to break the enemy's will by threatening, 'You are under surveillance.'"
"But, of all people, why Erika?"
Erika is the heir daughter of a great noble family from the Jōgasaki family, one of the "Three Great Families of the Empire."
No matter how fearsome the "Armed Secret" is, known to silence even the most crying child, I can't believe they would dare to pick a fight with the daughters of the most prestigious noble families without any clear evidence.
"I don't know. However, surviving the encounter with the 'Crimson Wolf' during the recent training trip might have inadvertently raised some suspicions about armed secrecy. Recently, Professor Washimine, who comes from the secret police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has arrived. Her becoming a full-time instructor might also be related."
(Secret police... Ruri-nee... No way)
Unpleasant thoughts swirl around in my head.
However, a gentle jolt from the stop ran through my body, temporarily halting my thoughts.
The driver hurriedly opens the backseat door.
The destination was a small airport.
(Is this... the capital airport?)
There are six airports in the vicinity of the capital, but "Capital Airport" is the smallest one among them.
For that reason, it is the closest to the center and highly convenient, so it is mainly used by high-status individuals such as members of conglomerates and nobility.
"Miss, Mr. Tōdō. Until you board the dragon, I apologize, but I must keep the 'Invisibility Spell' active."
Saying that, under the guidance of the escorting magicians, we passed through the terminal and headed towards the runway.
"This flying dragon courier is privately owned by the Jougasaki family, so please rest assured."
Wow, that's huge!
On the runway, there is not a private jet but a private dragon flight.
On the body of that gigantic dragon, which is as large as a jumbo jet, a capsule-shaped gondola made of a glass-like material is fastened.
Using the path extending from the gondola's boarding and alighting area, the dragon slowly began to run on the ground and took off with great momentum.
In just a few minutes, the airport buildings visible from the window become as small as sesame seeds, making one feel the dragon's incredible flying speed.
It's my first time riding on a flying dragon, but once we took off, the ride was surprisingly smooth and very comfortable.
Indeed, if such a convenient thing exists, it's understandable that aircraft haven't developed in this world...
(That being said, the way Erika's room was ransacked was anything but ordinary... Could it really be that the secret police and Ruri-nee are involved...?)
After having a meal prepared by the exclusive chef of the Jougasaki family and taking a breather, my thoughts began to swirl again.
Ruri-neesan had been somewhat reckless since childhood, but she was kind to younger people, including me, and had an exceptionally strong sense of justice.
Would she suddenly give an order to ransack the room without any evidence?
Even when I think back to the recent interrogation, it seems to me that she showed the same kindness as before.
(After all, I just can't believe that Ruri-nee could be the kind of person to do something so terrible...)
Seeing me lost in thought, perhaps worried, Erika smiled gently at me.
"Kai, don't worry. No matter what happens, I will definitely protect only you."
Saying that, she gently places her hand on top of mine.
Receiving Erika's straight gaze, I couldn't say anything.
(Anyway, for now, I guess I'll just have to consult Erika's mother, Kyoka-san, after we arrive...)
◆◆◆◆
The aerial journey by dragon courier came to an end in less than an hour.
Outside the window, patches of lush green land are beginning to peek through the gaps in the clouds.
It seems that the main mansion in Jōgasaki has a runway, and the dragon we ride lands directly there.
"Miss, Mr. Todo. I apologize for not having time for you to change, but the head of the family is waiting."
Prompted by the female butler who had driven us from the runway to the mansion, we headed towards the balcony inside the mansion.
On the sun-drenched balcony, there were elegant garden tables and chairs, along with a teapot and scones as refreshments.
It seems there are already customers at the table, but that is...
"Mother...!"
"Erika, I'm glad you're safe. And Toudou-kun too... it's been a while."
A busty beauty with silver-blonde hair and a monocle is wearing a subtle, elegant smile.
Seeing that, my heart started to race.
It's not because I'm dealing with a beautiful woman or anything.
This pounding heartbeat is due to the tension stemming from a mild trauma.
"It's been a while, Your Grace, Jōgasaki."
I returned the greeting to the head of the Jougasaki family, Jougasaki Kyoka, with a wry smile.