Rumbling, rattling-.
The car body shook greatly.
Abel, who had been dozing off, raised his head with a frown.
Then, I saw the faces of the cadets in the same class with a clear sense of tension.
It was only natural that I woke up early in the morning and got into a car that I didn’t even know where I was going.
‘It’s quiet.’
Abel leaned against the cold backrest and scanned his surroundings.
On the outermost side of the vehicle, Kaul sat with his arms crossed.
It was a landscape that reminded me of the last practice session.
If there is a difference from then, it is that the destination this time is not a well-established ‘garden’.
‘It’s a real game.’
I don’t know Abel, who has already experienced a heated real battle in the Red Hall, but the other cadets are probably very nervous.
Abel looked up at the metal ceiling and thought.
‘Anyway, where am I going?’
I wish I had a little hint.
Instructors thoroughly left the place of practice unresolved.
where is that all?
After exiting the academy, the vehicle turned around dozens of times.
I couldn’t see outside because there were no windows, but that was probably on purpose.
So that no one inside or outside would know exactly where they were going.
– It’s turning right again.
at that time. A familiar voice echoed in my head.
It was none other than Lupus’s voice.
It was thanks to the bracelet on my wrist that I was able to talk to him even though I wasn’t even on the Gigant.
The identity of the bracelet is an artifact obtained from the ruins, but it is usually combined with the core.
But this time, I deliberately left it out.
The travel time was quite long, and it was because of the experience of being attacked at Hena’s mansion last time.
It’s like a contingency plan for an emergency.
Abel answered Lupus’ words in his mind.
‘Right. It doesn’t feel too big since I’m riding inside.’
– It will. The driver’s skill is very good.
At Lupus’s words, Abel nodded slightly and slowly closed his eyes.
‘Wake me up if it stops.’
-… … Got it, master.
Rufus, who suddenly assumed the role of an alarm clock, paused for a while before answering.
Abel fell asleep shortly after.
* * *
Four days have passed since then.
The cadets had to remain in the car at all times except for meals or for very brief breaks.
Still, as I looked outside for a moment, the current final destination was somewhat outlined.
‘It must be the Delkan Mountains with a probability of almost 90%.’
It was the northern Delkan Mountains that Abel wanted so much.
The reason I guessed that was thanks to Cynthia.
Growing up under her grandfather, a ranger, she was well aware of vegetation such as trees and grass.
-The Delkan Mountains. It feels familiar somehow.
‘okay?’
Abel expressed interest in what Rufus said.
Lupus’ exact past was shrouded in a veil.
Abel knew only very fragmentary knowledge. I didn’t know the details.
– Mmm. But nothing really comes to mind. If you look at it yourself, you might think of something.
‘Tell me if you think of anything.’
-i get it.
By the time I finished the conversation properly.
I felt the car slowly stop. And not long after, the door at the back opened.
“Im here!”
Hearing the voice from outside, Kaul immediately rose from his seat.
“Wait a moment.”
Kaul jumped out of the car, looked around, and waved his hands.
“Get down one by one, starting from the nearest one. in turn. orderly.”
“yes!”
Abel, who was sitting in the middle, waited for a while, then got up and went outside when it was his turn.
Cold air brushed at the tip of his nose.
The air was noticeably colder than the place where we last rested.
Considering that I had been deaf not long before I got off there, it seemed like a fairly high altitude.
“ruler! Everyone, come this way!”
When all the cadets disembarked, Kaul took the lead and led them.
A large building stood near where the vehicle stopped.
It was a building similar to the one I had seen in Red Hall before. It feels like it was built for a thoroughly practical purpose.
“I see!”
Soon after, a man approached from the side of the building.
It was wearing a green uniform, but Abel recognized it right away.
‘Delcan Ranger.’
A ranger is another name for something like a mountain garrison or a mountain ranger.
Even now that Gigant has risen to the mainstream, Ranger’s value was high.
‘Because there are many places where it is difficult for Gigant to set foot in such a mountainous area.’
Of course, there are Gigant in the Ranger unit. However, most of them were just Tito.
The number of riders riding the Miles class or higher was about one in 10 Rangers.
“Everyone had a hard time coming.”
The ranger who came out to meet us guided people into the building with a sad smile.
Eventually we arrived at the back of the building. Gigants were lined up there.
Abel’s aircraft was also placed on one side.
Cowl spoke briefly with the Ranger and then told the cadets.
“I will explain the goal of this exercise.”
Everyone listened attentively and focused.
“The practice place is here. The Delcan Mountains. Recently, the giant and its fragments have been coming over from beyond the Delkan Mountains.”
Kaul crossed his arms and continued talking.
“Of course, I am not asking you to deal with it alone. In addition to the rangers, there are troops dispatched from the 1st Corps up here.”
After talking that far, Kaul turned slightly and pointed to one side.
It was northwest.
“For two days from today, you guys will be in charge of one side of the defense. along with the rangers. Most of the ‘enemies’ coming this way will be heading towards the 1st Corps, so it won’t be too dangerous.”
Although it is said that it is not dangerous, the youthful tension on everyone’s faces grew thicker.
After listening to the explanation, it must have really felt like a ‘real battle’.
“A detailed explanation of the operation will be given after moving to the operation site. Of course, don’t worry, I’ll go with you too. Now, does anyone have any questions up to this point?”
“Are you carrying out the same operation as the White Eagle Band?”
“no. It’s the exact opposite side. I plan to be with the elite of the 1st Legion.”
“Are you going to carry out the operation all the way through Friday?”
“okay. It may end early, but that’s the plan first.”
After that, Kaul faithfully answered even the smallest questions.
After the question-and-answer period, Kaul clapped his hands to call attention and pointed to one side.
“Now look over there.”
There was a large building where Kaul pointed.
Its shape was quite familiar, and Abel recognized what it was just by looking at its appearance.
‘Gigant storage.’
Usually, there is no reason to put such a huge door on anything other than Gigant-related facilities.
Sure enough, soon the door opened with a loud sound, and Gigant stepped out one by one.
Three Milles-class planes in front. And after that, twenty Titos walked out.
‘As expected, everything has been renovated.’
It was just like what we saw in the game.
First of all, they were all painted with a green and black pattern like military uniforms, and their appearance was different from the ones you often see.
First of all, the leg parts were thicker than average, and the shape of the part corresponding to the sole of a human was a little different.
It must have been remodeled to fit the characteristics of going up and down the sloped road frequently.
Also, it was noteworthy that all aircraft were armed with bows and short swords.
“Wow… … .”
Someone burst into small admiration.
Abel sympathized with him.
There is a big difference between each rank of Gigant, but it is never easy to fight Tito Riders of Delcan Ranger in rough mountains or forests.
Not only the aircraft, but each and every one of them are experts specializing in mountain combat.
coo-!
Soon, the rangers stopped not far away.
Kaul pointed towards it and said.
“These are the rangers who will help us with this practice. clap!”
At that, the cadets clapped their hands enthusiastically.
It was not strange at all to clap their hands after seeing the Gigants walking by, who had perfectly unified standards and armaments.
“good. Now, everyone, get on your own aircraft. We will move to the operation area while riding the Gigant.”
“Everyone come this way!”
Another instructor waiting at the place where Gigant was placed waved his hand and shouted.
All the cadets, including Abel, got on the Gigant under the control.
It wasn’t long before I finished the maneuver and settled down near the rangers.
-Everyone follow me!
Then Caul, who had brought along the Centurio-class Gigant, shouted in a loud voice.
Kaul’s Gigant was much more individual than what he usually used for lectures.
Both arms were thicker than normal Gigant, and even had an odd-shaped auxiliary device on the side.
‘Is it a propulsion device?’
Abel followed the cowl with curiosity.
The rangers also moved in sync with the leader of their unit.
Cooong, cooong, kung-!
The sight of the gigantic Gigant moving in a row was a spectacle in itself.
Abel walked halfway through the ranks and looked around.
‘The trees here are all as big as one.’
Not all trees were large, but it was true that the proportion of large trees overall was high.
Gigant’s passage was coolly pierced in the middle of such a forest.
‘There weren’t many places where the passage was open like this.’
Abel carefully recalled his memory.
The Delkan Mountains are very wide.
However, the passage through which dozens of gigants can move freely is extremely limited.
Most of the roads are at a level that Milles class can barely enter.
There were many roads that were not even at that level. That’s why I use Tito as my main weapon.
cooong, cooong-!
The rangers climbed the sloping road at a constant speed without any problems.
On the other hand, among the cadets, there were children who were secretly having a hard time.
Maybe it’s because it’s steep and the road is bumpy.
A lot of people have gotten used to it now, but it takes practice to even stand upright.
So, of course, it was quite difficult to balance and walk straight on such a rough road.
‘Excessive tension will also play a part.’
tension for the upcoming battle.
Worrying that if I made a mistake in a place like this, I would be laughed at for the rest of my life. what kind of stuff like that
Probably half and half in terms of proportion.
Fortunately, none of the cadets lost their balance and stumbled until they reached their destination.
– This is it.
When we arrived at our destination, the unit commander on the Ranger side approached us and said,
Kaul also responded in a serious voice.
-How would you like to arrange it?
-It would be better to set the overall layout based on the standard defensive formation and make detailed adjustments after that.
-That’s a good idea. Then we’ll get it under control.
After a short conversation, Kaul looked back at the cadets and shouted.
-ruler! Everyone must have learned in class! Standard defensive formation!
At those words, the cadets immediately moved without panic.
I even gave lectures on things like defensive formations and offensive formations.
This is because the importance is very high when several people work together to carry out an operation.
The standard defensive formation was one that was common throughout the Imperial Army and Templar Order.
Usually, rather than creating a completely new formation, it is used by giving it a variation.
‘Unity is important.’
It was only natural that if they were using different formations, they would have to use their brains quite a bit each time they joined forces.
thump, thump, thump.
The cadets stood apart at regular intervals and then divided into first and second lines.
In addition, the 6 on the left and the 6 on the right were spaced slightly diagonally apart from the 8 in the center.
This is the standard defensive formation.
It’s extremely simple, but that’s why it’s even more suitable for cadets.
It’s not yet at the level where you can freely perform complex formations.
When you just got into formation like that.
– A group of lower-class giants’ fragments appear ahead!
Suddenly, the Ranger’s shrill voice rang out.