14 A Pleasant Hike

Climbing the foothills of the mountain.

This mountain, part of the fleet, is naturally artificial.

The majority of people born and raised within the fleet is unsurprising.

Jin is no exception—though in his case, he has combat experience within a gravity well.

In other words, one of the few humans who have ever set foot on a planet.

For example, this mountain, given the uninspired name Third Mountain Range, appears to reach two thousand meters in elevation.

The first time he saw it, he was astonished.

Could such a thing exist in nature?

When he once saw a mountain exceeding ten thousand meters on a planet he had landed on, he stood stunned for several seconds.

A natural phenomenon conveying a different kind of insignificance than that felt in space.

He wanted to share even a fraction of that awe with Mio.

There was another reason as well—this break had been planned to end here.

"Wow... it's huge..."

As expected. Mio stood with her mouth slightly open, stunned by the sight of a mountain she had never seen before.

"We're climbing this mountain today, reaching the summit, then descending back down to camp near the middle slope."

"Camping! I know it!"

Jin blinked in mild surprise.

Had she learned about camping from something found in a house?

Before he could speculate further, Mio revealed the source.

"Toya-kun told me about it."

"Hm, Toya-kun..."

Indeed, the first of her followers.

"He said they set up a tent, grilled food, and lit fireworks."

"I see. Tent, barbecue, fireworks..."

A brief touch to the back of his left hand recalled today's plan.

Fireworks were out of the question. Acquiring them now would be impractical.

"Sorry—no fireworks..."

"Eh..."

"But everything else is here. So, okay?"

"Yay!"

Jin thinks it was worth coming today just to see Mio jump with joy.

He reaffirms his resolve to prepare fireworks next.

"Hey, watch where you're going, walk straight."

"Yes, sir."

The mountainside holds many unfamiliar sights not seen in daily life.

Mio wanders off to the left, then to the right, drawn by curiosity.

He warns her she'll tire, but she just waves it off with a cheerful "Heh."

Well, he thinks, if she gets worn out, he can always carry her.

More pressing than stamina is time.

The path winds zigzag through the terrain—slow progress.

"Oto-san! Look! Something's there!"

"Hmm... Ah, whatever that is. Looks like a rabbit-thing."

It was a creature discovered on some distant planet.

Apparently, it resembles rabbits that once lived on its home world.

But technically, it's not the real thing, so it was labeled as a "mockery" at the end.

No human has ever seen an actual rabbit, so whether it's called a mockery or not is uncertain.

Incidentally, it's edible.

"Nice... I want to touch it..."

Indeed, that fur does invite touch.

But the rabbit-thing vanishes into the forest's depths.

Mio tries to chase after it, as if refusing to let it go.

Jin grabs her by the back of the neck and manages to hold her back.

"Hey, hey. Don't stray from the course. You'll get lost."

"Then I'll stay still!"

He'd like to praise her for remembering so well, but first—

"First, don't get lost."

Jin keeps watch on Mio, who still seems intent on going somewhere, and somehow they reach the mid-slope.

A campsite equipped with all necessary gear and pre-arranged location.

The decision was influenced by favorable reviews and the fact that, among the current convoy, it was an operational entertainment facility.

"Then let's eat our bento."

"A bento..."

Mio, experiencing a bento for the first time, stares intently at the box, muttering softly.

To her, food had always been served on plates or in bowls.

This form—food concealed from view—was unfamiliar.

The creator, of course, was Jake.

He had distributed them free of charge to students at the training facility.

He called it a forward investment.

Upon opening the lid, she could only nod in silent agreement.

"Wow..."

A variety of side dishes and rice packed tightly into the small box.

Mio's was specially made—seaweed arranged on top to form the shape of a penguin.

Vegetables and meat, hard to come by under the current state of the convoy, used in the side dishes.

To be frank, they could easily be sold for profit.

Yet he gave them away freely. There was a clear intention behind it—building a regular clientele...

"He really is persistent, huh..."

"Jake’s amazing. Such a skilled cook."

They both praised Jake’s abilities, poking at their bento boxes.

"By the way, I once cooked at Jake’s place."

"Really?"

Jin tilted his head, trying to recall when that was.

Mio grinned proudly, boasting.

"Um, the last time I visited Jake’s shop."

"Ah. That day..."

The day they argued, and Mio was taken.

A day full of turmoil, to say the least.

Afterward, Jin had been hospitalized—there’d been no chance to talk.

"I made pancakes!"

"Wow, pancakes."

Jin mentally notes to look into it later.

He knows the taste, but not the actual thing.

"Was fun and delicious."

"Good to hear."

Jake has always been cooking, but Jin never thought it looked enjoyable—only exhausting.

Finding joy in that, he thinks, is a kind of talent in itself.

Perhaps Mio will grow fond of cooking too.

If so, that kitchen locked away in storage might see daylight yet.

"Anyway, um..."

Fidgeting.

Mio shifts her body.

"Could I make it at home if Jake shares the ingredients next time?"

"Mio?"

"Yeah."

"Can you make it?"

"I remember the method."

Jin gives a small clap.

Seems like the day of reckoning might be near.

"Of course you can... wait. You'll be using fire, right?"

"Yeah. So I need Oto-san to help too."

If told no, Jin could only say no—nothing else.

It was Mio’s request, not one made lightly. It had to be fulfilled.

"Then I’d better ask Jake."

"Yep!"

The convoy’s situation was precarious; Jake would find it difficult even if asked suddenly.

Jin quietly decided to speak with him in advance.

The careful groundwork was what made Mio’s days pleasant.

"Alright, then I’ll push a little harder."

"Yesss!"

Punching a fist toward the sky, he ascended further.

The summit was the target.

A panoramic vantage point across the entire Ship 9 region, nestled within this third mountain range.

Eh-ho, eh-ho—Jin climbed with light, steady steps.

Mio followed closely behind.

"Need help with your pack, Mio?"

"No! I’ll carry it myself!"

She said this as fatigue began to show, revealing an unexpected stubbornness.

"Touya said he could carry his own luggage! Mio, he’s your brother!"

It seems he has some pride in not wanting to lose to a subordinate, even if only in appearance.

While finding that stubbornness appealing, he slightly slowed his pace.

There, we're almost at the summit.

Really?

There. The slope ends here.

Beyond that, only the convoy's zenith screen remains.

Mio's momentum returns as the goal comes into view.

Thus, they traversed the slope.

Got it!

She leaps into the air, shouting triumphantly.

Jin wiped a light sheen of sweat from his brow and took a breath.

The sky’s close by.

That's right.

The sky above is closer than ever before.

One might think even those with keen eyesight could discern the intricate panels.

Looking down, Ship 9 lies fully in view.

Jin thinks the world is narrow.

Ship 1, the vessel itself, stands apart—but the other fifty ships are all identical to Ship 9.

An upgraded version of the original colony ships used when humanity fled its home planet.

The diameter of each habitation module measures at most ten kilometers.

Multiple vessels are linked together, forming a vast living zone, yet each individual unit is not particularly large.

Yet this was built by human hands.

To think of it as a world carved out by their own effort—it feels immensely spacious.

"Spacious."

"Yeah. Really spacious."

The population here does not exceed one hundred thousand.

The entire fleet numbers around ten million.

Previously, Jin had found no reason to fight.

He had pursued piloting only because of aptitude.

There was a reason, but no motivation.

He could not understand why he should risk his life.

Could not summon the will to care.

It was then that Rei brought him here.

Showed him the world he was meant to protect.

Without that, I probably wouldn’t be called Ace now.

What Jin received from the order.

He wanted to pass it on to Mio too.

That was another reason.

Clutching the distorted ring, Jin says.

“This is the world we live in.”

“Ooh.”

Hearing Mio’s voice, clearly not understanding, Jin smiles.