Pirate Route 4

After suffering their first attack on the pirate route, Shinosuke and the others endured two more assaults by space pirates. Fukubuki has destroyed six pirate ships, while Tsukikage has sunk three.

For now, the three ships—Fukubuki, Tsukikage, and Big Bear—have suffered no serious damage, but even if the vessels remain intact, the accumulated fatigue among their respective crews is proving difficult to overcome.

To make matters worse, the three ships had just endured their fourth attack by space pirates.

Even in the region known as the pirate route, the frequency of these attacks was simply too high.

It was no surprise that this had become a trap set by Shinnosuke's careless remarks, and Shinnosuke himself had no right to complain about it.

"Enemy group, position five to seven, expanding within a ±10 range, closing in."

Currently, Shinnozuke's group is being pursued by five pirate vessels, but Alisha is handling the radar and navigation control for Fubuki.

Even if they repel the pirates, another pirate group immediately attacks.

Moreover, the relentless assaults—uninterrupted by time—have pushed Fubuki to the point where Seira's fatigue has reached its limit.

Milena called out to take over for Seira, who needed rest, but since Milena was still an apprentice, Alisa stepped in to take Seira's place.

Five space pirates were pursuing from behind.

Tsukikage took the lead, keeping watch, followed by Big Bear.

Fubuki stayed at the rear, rotating the ship's bow 180 degrees and dealing with the pirate vessels while retreating.

"These guys are persistent. Unlike the previous ones, they know how to keep their distance."

"Enemy ships B and D are firing! Though out of range, they're hitting us. We can handle it with shields."

The five pirate ships kept up their taunting attacks from beyond each other's range, trying to wear down Shinnosuke and his crew.

Moreover, their unpredictable maneuvers made it difficult for Shinnosuke to get a long-range shot—clever and devious.

"We're not getting anywhere like this. How much longer until we reach the Seigal Holy Kingdom's territory?"

"About eight hours remaining."

Even the famed space pirates won't follow us right up to the border of the Seigal Holy Kingdom, but they'll likely keep tailing us for another four hours or so.

"Damn it, it's a waste, but we'll have to use it. Milena, take over piloting for about ten minutes. Just keep retreating at this speed."

"Understood. Leave it to me."

"Alright, You Hub Control."

"I'll take control."

After entrusting piloting to Milena, Shinosuke gets to work.

He plans to use newly installed equipment on the weapon base he had leftover before taking on this escort mission, though it's a cumbersome weapon system to set up beforehand.

"Initiating system... setting detonation range... ten units should be sufficient. Now, the dispersion area and..."

Shinnosuke mutters to himself as he continues preparing.

Once all necessary settings are complete, he takes control back from Millina.

"Alright! Millina, hand the controls back to me!"

"Understood. You Hub!"

"I Hub. Ready, dispersing!"

Shinnosuke slows down Fubuki, then flips the switch on the steering yoke.

A sphere approximately one meter in diameter was released from the device mounted on the bottom of Fubuki.

"Shinnosuke-sama, what is that?"

Shinnosuke answered Milena, who tilted her head in confusion.

"Hmm? That's a space mine."

A space mine, as Shinnosuke explained, is a weapon deployed toward a target ship, detonating upon contact with the hull or automatically triggering when a ship enters a pre-set range, drawing the vessel in before exploding.

Though newly equipped on Fubuki, which Shinnosuke acquired, these space mines are rarely used in modern military forces.

This is because space mines must be scattered across the target's path, unlike missiles or space torpedoes that fly directly toward the target—they must enter the pre-scattered minefield in order to be hit.

Naturally, if detected by the target, it can easily be avoided; therefore, to remain undetected by ship radar, it has a simple structure consisting of only minimal sensors and a jet propulsion unit, with explosives, all encased in a resin outer shell. At around one meter in diameter, it is small, and due to its small size, its explosive power is also low—insufficient to sink a ship with a single hit.

Moreover, due to its poor operational efficiency, it has long since been abandoned by military forces.

Given these circumstances, it's questionable why anyone would go to the trouble of deploying such a weapon—yet Shinosuke has his own reasons.

Even if it's underpowered as a military weapon, when used on a modified civilian vessel, it can disable space pirates with low defense if employed skillfully. More importantly, it can have a significant psychological impact on the enemy.

Shin nosuke kept an eye on the movement of the space pirates while increasing Fubuki's speed, having scattered space mines.

Ten mines had been deployed.

Though few in number compared to the vastness of space, each was placed with precision based on Shin nosuke's meticulous calculations and experience.

As expected, five of the space pirates entered the predetermined zone.

The lead pirate ship was struck directly by a mine, but unfortunately, four mines in succession hit it, reducing it to splinters.

Further back, two more pirate ships were hit—one rendered immobile, the other severely damaged.

Then, the remaining mines detonated simultaneously, weakening the pursuit by the following pirate vessels.

"Good. First time using these, but they're not bad at all."

He had intended merely to distract, but Shinnosuke wore a satisfied expression at the unexpectedly strong results.

However, his satisfaction didn't last long—Arisa suddenly shouted.

"New contact on Tsukikage's course, 12 o'clock direction! Number... over twenty ships! Tsukikage Merry's crew reports the same! They're deploying directly in front of us!"

"Over twenty? That's not the scale of a space pirate fleet!"

Even Shinnosuke, renowned for his skill, had little chance against twenty space pirate vessels all at once.

Having been stationed at the rear to monitor the rear, Shinnosuke turned the Fubuki around and surged to the front line.

"Tsukikage, fall back and focus on protecting Big Bear! Our flagship will push forward..."

"Wait. That is... not a space pirate. Identification signal confirmed. It's the fleet of the Seegul Holy Kingdom's Holy Surveillance Corps. Displaying the image on the monitor."

Alongside her report, Alisa projected onto the monitor a formation of destroyers uniformly colored in blue, deployed directly ahead of Shinnosuke's advancing forces.

This was the fleet of the Holy Surveillance Corps—the kingdom's law enforcement organization within the Seegul Holy Kingdom.