Marks' Dilemma

"Fast battleship approaching from ahead and to the left of our ship. Blocking our course. Evade!"

Even after hearing Marks' report, Shinnosuke does not turn the helm.

"Let them be the ones to move! If they don't get out of the way, we'll push through!"

Saying that, Shinnosuke aims the main gun.

"Enemy vessel is cutting across our course."

"Understood! Let's smash them in the face!"

Shinnosuke fires the main cannon at the bow of the White Rose Fleet's fast battleship, which has cut across Nightmare's course.

"Main cannon hit! Enemy vessel's bow destroyed! The impact has caused the enemy ship to spin! Course is clear! The enemy fleet's coordination appears to be disrupted—possibly due to jamming effects!"

Shinnosuke pushes the throttle lever all the way to maximum output.

Break through in one go while continuously firing the main cannon. Marks, unleash all other weapons too!

Understood! Using rapid-fire cannons and Gatling guns for suppression, we'll conserve solid ammunition.

I've got this—let's go!

Nightmare accelerated into the encirclement of the White Rose Fleet.

"Target at bearing 10: White Rose Fleet flagship, White Rose. Maintaining distance but firing upon us. Likely an诱引 attack."

"Understood. I'd like to press through without hesitation, but being flanked would be troublesome."

Shinonsuke slid the ship sideways, locked onto the White Rose, and fired the main cannon.

【BLACK ROSE】

"Report from the electronic warfare reconnaissance vessel ahead. The ghost ship has sunk the White Rose. So easily, His Excellency Ezaria... "

Bellrosa listened to Zakkbaran's report with mild disinterest.

"Nothing surprising about that. The White Rose that was sunk wasn't carrying Ezaria anyway."

"Wasn't carrying His Excellency? What do you mean?"

Bellrosa shrugged her shoulders.

"The one that sank just now was definitely the White Rose—the second ship of the Rose-class. Although four ships were built in the Rose-class, all except the third ship, the Black Rose, have been assigned to the White Rose Fleet. Do you know why?"

"Indeed, the flagship Rose and the fourth ship Yellow Rose... to the White Rose Fleet... Ah, I see what you mean."

Zack seemed to understand as well.

Azelia's clever and cowardly—she wouldn't willingly stay in a fight like this. She'd leave the White Rose at the front line and quickly switch to either the Rose or Yellow Rose, fleeing straight to Elran's side. The only ones left behind would be the faceless masses under Azelia's control.

Bellroza speaks in utter disbelief.

Meanwhile, the battle between the Black Rose Fleet and the White Rose Fleet continues, but the White Rose Fleet's actions certainly lack vitality.

Despite being a private fleet, their operations don't appear to be run by disciplined military personnel.

While the jamming caused by Nightmare may be a factor, it affects the Black Rose Fleet equally as well.

Perhaps her ability to mesmerize is binding her heart, preventing her from unleashing her true power.

"But that's not interesting at all... Zackburn, let's chase after the ghost!"

【NIGHTMARE】

Nightmare broke through the front lines of both the White Rose and Black Rose fleets' battle zones.

"Passed through the combat zone."

"Understood. Proceeding toward the destruction of the Sacred Lemuria Empire flagship."

"...Understood."

There was an unusual hesitation in Marks's response.

"What's wrong? Is something bothering you?"

"Forgive me for asking this now, but do you truly believe this operation has any real meaning?"

Shin nosuke showed an unexpected expression upon hearing Marks's unexpected question.

"Well, even if we do manage to take down Steinflügel, from the perspective of the overall situation, it wouldn't really matter much. The supreme goal of opening the Damra Star Cluster Commonwealth has already been achieved. The two Rimorian Empires are inevitably weakened by their civil war. Even if Erland were to overthrow the Rimorian Galactic Empire and seize its territory, it wouldn't be easy to restore order in a country already thrown into chaos. For the foreseeable future, they won't have the time or energy to focus on other nations, and will instead have to constantly prepare for potential invasions. In that sense, I don't think it would be a problem if we just left Akneria alone."

"I'm relieved, Master. I agree with your thoughts."

"Relieved? That's unusual coming from you."

Shinonsuke chuckled.

"To be honest, I do feel a kind of uncertainty within me, and I'm confused myself. However, as your companion, I find it troubling that you're being forced into such a dangerous mission, and I'm angry toward the space forces that issued such an order."

I don't know what the Space Forces really have in mind, but probably it's just to make post-war cleanup easier by eliminating the Emperor of the Holy Lemurian Empire here. In a way, it'd be a favor to the Galactic Empire, and it could also help keep things under control in the future. Even if we fail, we'll just become dust in space—so there's really no real loss either way.

That's a really crappy organization, the Space Military, if you ask me.

Shinnosuke couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

"Hahaha, you're telling me, Marks. The military is certainly a shitty organization that dishes out crap orders. But I don't think the Akeria Space Force is completely rotten yet. Sure, it's a large organization, so there are probably some rotten parts—just like any big group. But this operation itself is efficient and meaningful. Even though it's another nation's affair, if it succeeds, it could bring an end to the imperial civil war and help prevent unnecessary sacrifices. So it's not entirely pointless, is it?"

"Even if Master's life is staked on the table like that?"

Shin nosuke wiped the smile from his face and nodded.

"Even so. I knew the risks when I took on this mission. Now that I've accepted it, I'll give it everything I've got to complete it."

"What do you think Milena, Seira, and Lina would say if they heard your current thoughts?"

"Well, they'd probably be furious. No doubt about it. Just thinking about how they'll react when I return safely makes me feel uneasy."

"They'd be furious, of course. But if anything were to happen to Master during this mission, those three would be heartbroken."

Sinnosuke's expression darkened at these words.

"I don't mind being scolded or making them sad... but I really don't want to cause them that pain..."