No secondary disasters allowed

Fubuki en route to the navigation beacon station that A884 had just passed through.

Naturally, it was navigating while emitting exploration waves at maximum output.

"Wait... There's an asteroid belt outside the standard starboard-side route. There was originally an asteroid belt in this region, but it seems to have extended out into the navigation path."

Ceyla compared the route data with the detected asteroid belt.

Although the effect is not immediate, the asteroid belt is approaching near the usual flight paths.

Moreover, it's a quite dense asteroid belt.

"Aira-san, maybe we ended up lost in the asteroid belt..."

Eren mutters.

"The likelihood of that is extremely low. A seasoned escort vessel wouldn't deliberately veer off course and enter an asteroid belt under normal circumstances. It's not impossible, but navigating through the belt is far too dangerous. Let's head toward our destination zone for now.

It's inconceivable that a skilled navigator would suddenly vanish from the regular route, yet it's equally unthinkable that they'd deliberately stray into the asteroid belt."

Millena is concerned about the asteroid belt, but she can't risk venturing into such danger without concrete evidence.

Fubuki continued on her course and arrived at the designated search area.

Unfortunately, no leads on A884 were found during the outbound journey.

After one week of searching, progress was slow, and no trace of A884 had been discovered.

Her strong desire to find Aila was making it difficult to move forward.

The conflicting thoughts—fearing she might have overlooked something within the search area, yet also knowing A884 could still be ahead in unsearched regions—were hindering her progress.

" She's not here either. What should we do? Shall we move to the next area?"

Milina nodded in response to Seira's question.

"...Just a little longer... No, let's go ahead and move on."

She tried to move on to the next sector, but couldn’t help feeling reluctant, her movements on the steering wheel and throttle lever sluggish and hesitant.

The search progressed painfully slowly, time slipping by without purpose.

(Did Shinnosuke-sama foresee this?)

Because the target was someone she knew well—Aira—her judgment grew even more sluggish, her emotions spinning in place with no direction.

All of this was due to Milena and Seira's inexperience, and Milena herself finally came to realize the harsh reality.

Two weeks passed without any results.

"......There's nothing we can do. Let's return as planned."

Milena spoke in a strained voice, informing the crew that the search was over.

The only hope left was on the journey back.

Yet, after boasting so boldly all the way here, they had only expended energy and supplies with nothing to show for it.

Both Milena and Seira, as well as the other crew members, were overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness, their motivation clearly waning.

Seeing the state of Milena and the others, Andy felt a flicker of unease.

(That said, I'm sorry, Iria-san, but I just hope we can return without any further incident.)

If morale drops this low, there's a real risk the crew's spirit will collapse should any unexpected event occur.

And the day four into the return journey, Andy's fears became reality.

"The asteroid belt is extending further than before."

The asteroid belt, which had already been close to the usual route during the outbound journey, had expanded even more.

It was now dangerously close to the standard route.

"According to the navigation data, the asteroid belt in question is large in scale, with the main current moving extremely slowly, yet constantly shifting in shape and position. Its density is also very high, making it extremely dangerous. It's best not to approach it."

Maderia reports the information about the asteroid belt.

Indeed, it would be unwise to approach it recklessly.

Just as Miliana begins to adjust the course—

"Signal received!"

Suddenly, Seira and Ellen shout in unison.

Milena stops moving.

Where is it from? What type of signal is it?

Within the asteroid belt. It disappeared immediately, so its position is unknown, and it's too faint to determine any details!

The signal data recorded by Seira was displayed on the monitor.

It does resemble some kind of signal, but the amount of data received is too small to confirm it as a distress signal.

There is also a possibility of natural electromagnetic wave disturbances.

The one thing that is certain is that the signal—or the electromagnetic disturbance—originates from within the asteroid belt.

And this may very well be our last hope.

Milena makes her decision.

"Let's search the asteroid belt..."

"Impossible, Miss Milena!"

Andy cut off Milena's words.

"Why not? This is our first real clue! Maybe Ira is actually in there!"

Sera and Eren silently nod in agreement with Milena's words.

Maderia remains indifferent.

"Perhaps that's true. Still, it's impossible. Our search operation has already ended. We're simply navigating through this sector to return home. We can't risk our ship and crew on uncertain information. A second disaster must be absolutely avoided!"

"But what if Ira is..."

"I'm the captain of the Fukuki now. Follow my orders!"

"..."

With a sharp pain in his stomach, Andy maintained a resolute (or so he hoped) demeanor.

"Moreover, this asteroid belt is far too dense. Even Fujiki's radar would struggle to scan it, and navigating through it is dangerously risky. Even with my expertise in precise maneuvering, I can't say I'd feel confident sailing through such a chaotic field of asteroids. If you still insist on proceeding, then under Fujiki's captain's authority and responsibility, I'll relieve Miss Milena of her position as deputy captain."

Andy struggles to fulfill his duty, feeling as if his stomach is being torn apart.

Just as Shinosuke had predicted, yet still a tiny bit resentful toward Shinosuke.

(Damn it, Shinosuke! Why don’t you just run out of that synthetic fruit tea!)

Andy silently recites a twisted, petty grudge song in his heart.

"I apologize. I see now that Andy was also told by Shinosuke-sama? My emotions got the better of me... It's my usual flaw. I'm still too inexperienced as a sailor."

"I'm sorry too. I got caught up in the moment and forgot what Shinosuke-sama said."

Seeing Milina and Seira looking apologetic yet clearly distressed, Andy's stomach reached its limit.

(Damn it, damn it! Just shut down that synthetic fruit tea already!)

"Then I'll take over piloting from here."

Andy switched places with Milina and took his seat in the cockpit.

After marking the sector where a faint signal had been detected, Andy reached for the throttle lever.

"Unknown vessel approaching!"

Tension rippled through the bridge at Elen's report.

"Position? Is it transmitting a navigation identification signal?"

Andy asked Elen, activating the weapons control system.

"Bearing 11 plus or minus 0, distance 140. Approaching us. Navigation ID confirmed. Belongs to the Salius Stellar Region Free Merchant Fleet. Escort vessel... wait, what?"

"Eren, what's wrong?"

"It's definitely a护卫 vessel from the Salius Stellar Region Free Merchant Fleet, but there's no data on its vessel ID."

Andy checks the identification signal too, and indeed, there's no record of such a护卫 vessel.

"Maybe the vessel ID is new... Could it be a newly registered ship?"

We can't lower our guard until we figure out the true identity of the approaching vessel.

Amidst the rising tension, Andy's stomach pain had vanished somewhere.

"Communication from the vessel! Oh, this is Shinnosuke-san!"

Seyla's voice brightens as she intercepts the communication.

Escort Ship Hayabusa, this is Escort Ship Yatagarasu! You haven’t been reckless and broken your orders, have you?

The voice coming from the speaker was undoubtedly Shinosuke's.