Rune Troopers: Self-Defense Forces Adventure

“I’m sorry to interrupt you, but we should think of our next plan. We don’t have much time.” A man in a white Maritime Self-Defense Force uniform said abruptly.

Kuze and Carda, who had been sentimental, were stunned by his brainy remark. But Kuze was neither upset nor despairing in any way. He gazed at the man – Vice Admiral Kato.

Kato laughed behind his glasses and continued, “It’s not game over yet. Time-limit events in boss battles are not uncommon in games these days, aren’t they?”

“Commander Kato…”

“Don’t give up. You’re the Captain, right?” Kato winked at him and showed him.

He’s a freak, this guy. He is still willing to fight. He is still willing to fight and still not giving up. That’s why I knew I could count on him.

Kuze nodded emphatically at his words. Kato also nodded back at him.

“First, let’s get the situation straightened out. Miss. Carda.”

“What is it?”

Kato looked at the red sky and the black monster writhing on the ground.

“Miss Carda, to be clear, what do you think that thing is?”

“Umm, I can’t be sure,” Calda growled and continued, “I think the meteorite was caused by the ‘Eye of the Storm’ that the monster used.”

“What? Eye of the Storm?” Kato and the SDF members seemed puzzled by the term.

“Yes, that’s what I’m talking about…” Calder began to explain what she knew.

According to the researcher who pointed out its existence, the ‘Eye of the Storm’ may have been a kind of disposable weapon. In both fairy tales and myths, there were very few descriptions of those who used it. Even those that did were often accompanied by sacrifices. In other words, those who used the ‘Eye of the Storm’ would perish in some way, along with the target of their attack.

These statements were only vaguely described. It seemed that the beings who disclosed this information had the intention to hide the truth.

As for the ‘Eye of the Storm’ control device, there was no description of a single device being used over and over again. The shapes of the crystals had nothing in common, except that they were crystals with the ‘universe’ in them. Some were crystals themselves, others were wands with crystals embedded in them, and some were even rings.

The researcher had a hypothesis that the ‘Eye of the Storm’ was not so much a control device. It was some kind of attraction device that burned the life of the person who used it to attract the meteors.

Kuze listened to the explanation and suddenly asked something that he had been wondering in his mind, “In other words, is it possible to do something about the control unit that the black monster has?”

He thought that if he could destroy the attraction device, he might be able to avoid the meteorite.

Calda also looked skeptical, but nodded, “Perhaps. But now you know why there are so few descriptions of the person who controlled it. If he used it, he would end up looking like that, and it would be more painful than death.”

The reason why the truth was kept vague was so as not to reduce the number of people using this mystic art. In other words, it was an outrageous control of information by the leaders of the Ancient civilization.

“Now, here we are. Let’s get straight to the point. The Ibuki is equipped with tactical tomahawks.” Kato said impatiently.

Kuze tried to remember the word he had heard somewhere as he said, “Tomahawk, aren’t they cruise missiles? But that could fall under the category of strategic weapons, so isn’t that why the SDF doesn’t deploy them?”

Kato nodded his head with a mysterious face.

Tomahawk cruise missiles. The latest model had an effective range of up to 3,000 kilometers and was a long-range missile designed for use against surface and naval targets. The Tomahawk became famous during the Gulf War and has become a symbol of high-tech warfare, synonymous with pinpoint attacks.

On the other hand, the Self-Defense Forces, which were required to maintain an exclusive defense, were not allowed to deploy these missiles because of their unique characteristics, which made them weapons for attacking foreign countries.

“But times had changed, so the Maritime Self-Defense Force had decided to take the initiative and introduce the weapon on a trial basis. A certain country’s new ballistic missile was about to be deployed in actual warfare and was pointed at Japan while starving its people to death. Even if the first attack was prevented, if two or three shots are fired, no matter how hard Aegis interceptor missiles and ground-based PAC3s do their best, they would eventually be unable to prevent it. That’s why…”

“So pinpointing and destroying the enemy’s missile launching base, which would be the main source of the missiles, fits within the framework of an exclusive defense?” Kato laughed sarcastically at Kuze’s interpretation.

“That’s why the IBUKI was deliberately added to the PKF mission. We were going to conduct a live-fire exercise of the new Tomahawk in Africa, where we were going to be deployed. The absence of the media, the complex terrain conditions, along with the ability to launch the Tomahawk at maximum range would make it possible to conduct joint exercises with the U.S. forces. If we could have done joint exercises with the U.S. military. The conditions couldn’t have been better,” Kato added further.

“That was also the reason why the GSDF deployed many of its new weapons, as I recall.” Kuze thought of something and replied.

“That’s right. That’s the Marines’ side of it,” Kato patiently answered.

“…That’s not made public, right? Even I, who is also in the Self-Defense Forces, didn’t know about Tomahawk,” Kuze questioned, perplexed.

“Only a few people knew about the Tomahawk because of a political decision. Of course, the media is not privy to it. People like me are the odd man out. I and Admiral Kaburaki, who was sent over, were put in charge of this mission so that if something went wrong, the top brass could place the blame on us and pretend they didn’t know.”

“It’s terrible, isn’t it?” Listening to Kato’s explanation, Kuze was disgusted.

“No, maybe it will save your life, you know?”

“Let’s hear what you have to say.”

“I’m glad you’re a man of understanding.” Kato noticed that before he knew it, the people around him were looking at him with expectant eyes.

There was no distinction between the Self-Defense Forces and the people of this world. They were all looking at him in search of hope for life.

“Let me tell you where the success of our operation lies. We’re going to set that black monster on fire.”

“Flame?” Everyone parroted and tilted their heads.

“Yes, flames. We need a lot of infrared. Uh, intense heat. To fire a weapon powerful enough to reliably bring down the monster.”

“And that weapon would be a tomahawk?”

“Yes. Tomahawks are originally guided to their targets by satellites, but several of the Tactical Tomahawks mounted on Ibuki this time are improved versions. The final guidance method is infrared detection.”

The Self-Defense Force officers understood that the purpose of the Tactical Tomahawks was to detect the heat source of a certain country’s nuclear missile launch base and ensure that the missiles would hit the target. If a mobile launch system was used to launch the nuclear missiles, there was a risk of missing the shot if the coordinates were specified.

Carda and the others also vaguely understood that they were talking about using the weapons that had destroyed the Dragon and the Imperial Army to shoot at the monster.

“So, the operation depends on how we can burn the monster.” Kato’s words brought a difficult look to everyone’s faces.

There was a reason for this. Although arrows and bullets would pass through, they would be ineffective because the monster was in the form of an insubstantial mist. Even if one tried to get close with a sword or spear, the monster seemed to be using powerful barrier magic and would not accept the approach of a human being.

Apparently, barrier magic responded to ‘will.’ This was why it did not react to attacks such as arrows and bullets that were out of the attacker’s hands. The range of the barrier was so wide that even if one were to throw a hand grenade, the attacker would react to it before it reached the target. Moreover, it seemed to trigger automatically, so even if the monster’s attention was diverted elsewhere, the barrier magic would not be nullified.

How could we break such barrier magic and set the monster ablaze? So that the missiles hit it directly? As Kuze was wondering, a voice sounded.

“We can help you, too.” A voice came from the side.

‘Rumi-san?” Gazing in the direction of the voice, there were ten armed priestesses and warrior girls.

Rumi’s figure was also visible within them.

“Are you headed to battle?” She asked with a determined expression. And before Kuze and the others could reply, she continued, “If the target is weakened, the barrier magic should disappear. From the looks of it, the monster appears to be of the undead type. Holy Magic may be effective. We, the Koumo-kyo Priest Warriors, are only apprentices, but we will participate in the battle.”

The girls had seen the hard work of the SDF members and were determined to fight alongside them. Carda, who was watching them, looked up with a start, “I have a proposal.”

Kato looked at her and nodded, “Go ahead.”

“How about this plan? First, our main force will attack with all its might and distract the monster.” Carda shifted her gaze to Rumi and the other priestly warriors.

“Then, we will immediately hit the monster with their Holy Magic to weaken it. When he is unable to use his barrier magic, you and your men approach and use the thing that destroyed the Dragon.”

“84 mm recoilless cannon?”

“Yes, once hit it will create a big gap. Then I’ll flank it and use this.” Carda lifted the sword she kept by his side. It was a beautiful sword with a jewel embedded in it.

“What is it?” Kuze and the SDF members looked at the sword, puzzled.

“The monster threw it down a moment ago, and I had my men retrieve it. This is the Magic Sword Balmung. It belonged to the enemy General, Richarda. It is a rare sword that possesses a vicious magical power.”

“How can you burn that monster with a sword?” The SDF members still couldn’t understand how a sword would enable them to set someone ablaze.

At his question, Carda laughed fearlessly. “I can handle the Magic Sword to a certain extent. I’ll use the sword’s magic power to fire a flaming spell at the monster. If I do that…”

Hearing this, the others let out a gasp.

“The monster will burst into flames! The Tomahawk will use its infrared rays to ram the monster!” Kuze exclaimed while Kato wrinkled his brow. “Miss Carda, can I have a word?”

“Is there a problem?”

Kato’s brow furrowed as he said, “It’s not like that. Fire magic is the magic that sends fireballs to the enemy?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then, since it leaves the magician’s hands, can’t it break through the barrier magic? I think we can minimize the risk.” Kato put forth his opinion.

Carda shook her head and replied, “Magic is a reflection of the user’s will in the real world. Even if it leaves his hand, as long as it is the embodiment of his will, that barrier magic will not be able to break through.”

“I see. Then, there is no flaming system in the Holy Magic? If we can weaken them and attack them at the same time, wouldn’t that make things faster?”

“I am sorry, but Holy magic is something that borrows the power of God. There is no such magic. I, too, think Miss Carda’s plan is the way to go.” It was Rumi who answered.

“Well… If that’s the case, it certainly looks like Carda-san’s strategy is the only way to proceed…” Kato muttered to himself.

“The rest is just a matter of seeing how it proceeds. We’ll just have to give it a try.” Kato said to himself, trying to cheer himself up.

“God does not abandon those who do not give up. I’m sure He will bless you.” Rumi smiled softly.

“Then let’s go. Even if there is no certainty that it will work, I’m willing to give it a shot.” Carda looked around at everyone with a serious expression.

Her eyes met Kuze’s, who replied, “Miss. Carda, it’s not safe for you to go alone. You’ll need backup. I will go with you.”

“This is our country’s problem. You, people, have nothing to do with it.” Carda rebuked in a stern voice.

“No, it is not. Besides, right now, if the mission fails, we’re all going to the other side together.” But Kato did not seem fazed.

Calda’s eyes widened at the unexpected answer for a moment. Kuze smiled slightly. She smiled, too.

She was a little surprised.

Come to think of it, when was the last time I honestly laughed like this? Maybe… it might not have happened since I lost that person.

Carda stared at Kuze in front of him and made a decision.

I don’t want anyone to die anymore.

“Then, I’ll leave it to you. Please, knight from another world.”