The place Emma was led to by Claudia was a city reduced to rubble.

Black smoke billowed everywhere, and fires still smoldered in various places.Banfield family soldiers, who had arrived for rescue, were setting up shelters throughout the city.

"...It's a terrible sight," Emma said, walking behind Claudia, her heart aching as if she wanted to cry.

However, Claudia wouldn't permit it.

"Hold your head high. It's only this bad because you prevented the worst."

"I wanted to protect it before it came to this."

"Do you understand what you're saying?" Claudia stopped and turned back to question her, her gaze stern. She must have thought her former student, whom she believed had grown, still clung to naive ideals.

But Emma met Claudia's gaze and replied, "Yes."

At her short, yet strong-willed reply, Claudia gave a wry smile.

"You've become quite willful, haven't you? As for me, I prefer a bit more humility, but have you been poisoned by them?"

Though she said 'poisoned,' Claudia's expression wasn't accusatory.The 'them'—it must have been Marie, Sera, and Marianne.

"It was a short period, but I was certainly trained well."

"Don't get too poisoned."

As the two walked through the devastated city, they arrived at what appeared to be a plaza.There, Banfield family knights were speaking with the city's representatives.The representatives looked bewildered.

"Are you telling us to abandon this planet!?"

The Banfield family's conclusion, it seemed, was the evacuation of the residents from the planet they inhabited.A serious-looking male knight with glasses explained dispassionately to the representatives.

"This planet is Imperial territory. No lord or governor has been assigned, but it's effectively treated the same as a directly controlled Imperial territory. You are currently residing illegally in a directly controlled Imperial territory."

Told that living on this planet was illegal, the representatives were incensed.

"Don't mess around! This is a planet we developed and made habitable!"

"Even so, it is Imperial property."

Another representative spoke, almost begging, "We can't endure a nomadic life again. Couldn't you arrange for us to belong to the Empire?"

"Impossible."

Seeing the male knight's cold response, Emma started to say something, but Claudia spoke first.

"If you're going to intervene out of sympathy, stop. To begin with, the conditions on this planet are too harsh for human habitation. If it were to belong to the Empire, a lord would need to be assigned, or a governor dispatched... but no profit can be gained from ruling a planet like this. At worst, the Empire will burn this planet to ashes and pretend nothing happened."

"No!" Emma, unable to hold back, blurted out a cry, but she closed her mouth when she saw Claudia's sorrowful expression directed at the representatives.

"The current state of the Empire is one where human lives are treated lightly. ...It truly makes me sick."

Emma vaguely understood what Claudia had wanted to show her.She must have wanted to show her what was happening as a result of her own actions.Emma looked down and clenched her fists.

"Were my actions a mistake?" She wondered if it had been nothing more than self-satisfaction.

When she questioned Claudia, the woman gave a troubled look and a vague answer.

"I haven't abandoned my humanity enough to definitively say it was a mistake. But it's true that you were reckless. As your superior, I believe your treatment should be harsh."

"...Yes."

"However... as a human, and as a knight, I will pay my respects to your actions."

Once the conversation concluded, Claudia asked Emma for a favor.

"By the way, we need to relocate the residents of this planet. Lieutenant Rodman, your mothership, the Merea, will also help with the transfer."

"Huh? Is that alright? But I'm..." She was bewildered, not expecting to be given a mission, thinking she would be apprehended instead. Claudia smiled as she spoke.

"Our army is short-handed; we can't afford to have you idle."

◇

When Tim, who had regained his pompadour, returned to the Merea's bridge, the veteran crew members were waiting to tease him.

"Quite the stylish haircut, Commander," Doug said, throwing him a bottle of hair gel. Tim caught it and adjusted his pompadour.

"We're both in the same boat when it comes to hair, aren't we?"

Jessica, one of the veterans and a pilot, looked at Tim suspiciously, arms crossed.

"Still, why did you suddenly get so motivated?"

In response to Jessica's question, Tim explained the reason for his change of heart.

"That knight—no, the Lieutenant—reminded me. That rebellious spirit was still left in me."

Emma was the reason Tim had returned to his former self.He had gone against orders and done things his own way before, but this time was different.In a situation where severe punishment awaited, even if she didn't make a mistake, she still showed her defiance.Tim himself had been the same in the past.During his time in the old army, he had defied useless superiors and put his life on the line on the front lines.

"The Lieutenant is... well, I thought she was a refined knight, but she's got guts, doesn't she? It felt foolish to remain so spineless in front of someone like that."

Doug and Jessica exchanged glances and shook their heads.

"He's just a contrarian, that's what it is."

"You can say that again."

Tim's face reddened at their reactions, and he sat down in the commander's chair with a sulky expression.

"More importantly, hurry up and prepare to take in the residents. ...Where's the Supervisor?"

Alisun was not on the bridge.

◇

"Even if the Merea is a light carrier, there's no space to accommodate all these residents. The brass upstairs are really selfish, aren't they?"

Lally, carrying luggage and walking down the corridor, headed for the hangar.It was to temporarily move the luggage from the rooms to the hangar, to prepare rooms for the residents.When Lally arrived at the hangar, he saw an unfamiliar female knight looking down at the hangar.

"Who's that?"

Perhaps noticing Lally, who had tilted his head, the female knight turned around.Her long, straight blonde hair fanned out like a mantle, and her green eyes shone like jewels.Her finely textured, beautiful skin was unblemished, making him wonder if she truly was a female knight.She looked like some princess, but she wore knight's attire and carried a sword, so she must be a knight.

"You're a Merea crew member?"

"Ah, yes." The female knight waved her hand to indicate a salute wasn't necessary to Lally, who was carrying a large amount of luggage.

"When will the residents start boarding?"

"I heard it's about to begin."

(Thanks to that, we're swamped. Still... she has more presence than our captain. She's like a picture-perfect knight.)

Due to the aura she exuded, Lally's usual foul mouth didn't make an appearance.Lally spotted the residents boarding the Merea in the corner of his eye.

"Looks like they're here."

The female knight suddenly turned, gripping the railing and leaning forward.Her expression shifted, from joy and relief... to one of melancholy.Seeing the female knight shedding tears at the end, Lally could only fluster, unsure what to do.

"Huh? Um... are you perhaps acquainted with someone here?"

Then, the female knight wiped away tears with a finger.

"I don't think I have any personal acquaintances here. But just knowing that people from my homeland are alive makes me feel a little saved. No, that's just an excuse. I, who once decided to abandon them, shouldn't even deserve to be happy."

Lally didn't understand what she meant, but he decided to say something anyway.

"I don't know the full situation, but I think it's better to meet them while you can."

"...Just confirming their safety from here is enough."

Lally left the area, as he had work to do, but the female knight continued to gaze at the residents boarding the ship.Because of this, Lally, out of nosiness and... a rebellious spirit against knights, took action.

(How irritating. She should just go meet them already.)

Lally went downstairs and called out to the residents.

"Hey, there's a knight here who seems to be from your home world. Doesn't anyone know her?"

The residents he called out to looked in the direction Lally was pointing.

"There's a knight from Mystilia? That's... no way."

When one of them realized, the residents started to murmur and get noisy.Among them was an old woman, shedding tears.

"...Lady Christiana."

She seemed to be famous, as all the residents whispered the female knight's name.The female knight rushed to flee into the ship, but Lally easily imagined what she would do next.

(She seems to be a high-ranking knight, so did she come in a small craft? If so...)

Seeing the residents disappointed that the female knight had fled, Lally spoke.

"You lot, if you take that passage, you can get ahead of her. Hurry up if you want to follow her."

"Thank you!"

Seeing the residents rush off, Lally felt satisfied with his small act of mischief.However, then he remembered something.

"...Wait? Christiana, isn't that..."

Lally finally remembered the knight he had seen in various videos.

◇

When Christiana tried to return to her small craft, the residents of her homeland—Mystilia—had gotten there first and were waiting.An old woman came forward as their representative.

"Lady Christiana!"

Called by name, Christiana looked down, feeling she couldn't face the residents.

"...You haven't forgotten me, after all."

The old woman approached Christiana, and then knelt down in front of her, sobbing.

"You're safe... your safety truly means everything to us."

At her posture, as if she were prostrating herself, Christiana hastily embraced the old woman and pulled her up.

"What are you doing?!"

It had always been a lingering regret.Before serving the Banfield family, Christiana was known as the Princess Knight on a certain planet.Despite being born into royalty, she chose the path of a knight and had protected her home planet, Mystilia, countless times.However, Christiana was ensnared in a trap by the Goaz Pirate Band due to a betrayal by her own allies and was captured.Until she was picked up by the Banfield family head, Christiana endured harsh days.Even so, she never forgot the people of her homeland.

"You don't need to cry for me. It's only natural if I'm blamed. So, I had only intended to check on them and leave..."

However, a bearded man, clutching his hat, said to Christiana through tears, "From the day we heard you, our Princess Knight, were captured by Goaz, we've worried endlessly. But to see you safe and sound like this, we are..."

The still small children watched with curiosity the sight of grown adults shedding tears.Christiana embraced the old woman with both hands, and then shed tears herself.

"I swear on the name of Kristiana Leta Rosebleia. This time, I will deliver you to a place where you can live in peace. Please, allow me to atone..."

Although Christiana had failed to protect her homeland, she now had the opportunity to help the survivors from Mystilia.She used 'Leta,' a middle name she no longer used, as an act of atonement for the past.

"From now on... this time... I will protect you."

◇

When Emma, having parted ways with Claudia, returned to the Merea, Alisun was waiting for her.

"You really did it, didn't you, Lieutenant Rodman."

Emma was met with an intensely cold glare, but she was self-aware enough to accept it, knowing what she had done.

"My sincerest apologies, Supervisor."

She saluted, but Alisun approached Emma, raised her right hand—and slapped her across the face.A dry, sharp sound echoed through the area, drawing the gazes of the Merea's crew nearby.Several started to approach, but Emma stopped them with a look.

Emma met Alisun's gaze. "I am prepared to accept my punishment."

"Of course you are! We only survived because the main fleet arrived! If things had gone wrong, we could have ended up fighting the regular army and been wiped out!"The Merea's crew had been dragged into Emma's reckless actions. Alisun's anger was only natural.

"It was my sole decision."

"Yes, make sure you write that clearly in your report. Honestly, why on earth did you—"

As Alisun was racking her brain over her report to her superiors, Christiana appeared with Claudia.Her eyes were a little red, but she was waving cheerfully in front of Emma.

"Lieutenant Emma Rodman, isn't it? I've heard about you from Claudia."

"Vice Admiral Christiana... P-pardon me!" Emma hastily saluted, and Alisun also turned and saluted.

Alisun, surprised at Christiana's presence, thanked her for the current incident.

"Without the main fleet's assistance, we would have been in grave danger. We are grateful for your assistance."

Claudia remained silent, but Christiana seemed willing to engage her.She crossed her arms beneath her chest and spoke without letting her smile falter.

"It was only natural, as we discovered a fleet engaging in forbidden looting. By the way, you seemed to be correcting Lieutenant Rodman; was something amiss?"

"Hmph! She engaged in combat with the Imperial Regular Army on her own initiative. A serious matter that could lead to the Empire's defeat if handled poorly—"

As Alisun tried to state the obvious, Claudia, who had been standing slightly behind her, cast a sharp glance.

"Lieutenant Rodman merely cracked down on a serious violation. There's no need for correction."

"...Huh? B-but, currently we are!" It was in the middle of a war with the United Kingdom. There was even a possibility of the Imperial Army splitting due to Emma's actions.But Claudia didn't seem to perceive it as a danger. Christiana felt the same.

"You... you were previously chosen as a candidate for Lord Liam's adjutant, weren't you? I hear you've been quite active here as well."

Emma reacted to the words "adjutant candidate." (Alisun was such an amazing person!)Alisun, praised, seemed to puff out her chest ever so slightly with pride. "Thank you. I'm currently assigned as the Supervisor of this ship."

However, Christiana's smile faded as she spoke. "But your perspective is narrow."

"...Huh?"

"You've misunderstood the meaning of this external war. If you only look at this battlefield, your opinion is correct. However, it was Lieutenant Rodman who was correct this time."

"No, that's not...!"

To a bewildered Alisun, Christiana offered a brief follow-up. "You observe situations well. I, too, acknowledge your excellence. But you couldn't see the whole picture. That's all it is."

"The whole picture?" Alisun was confused, but neither Christiana nor Claudia seemed inclined to explain.Emma was even more confused than Alisun, having been confused from the start.

"Huh? Wait, my actions were correct? But, wait—?!"

She had thought she was wrong, yet the higher-ups had judged her to be correct.There was no way she wouldn't be confused by this.Claudia looked exasperated at her reaction, but Christiana was chuckling.

"This is only true for this instance. Don't think it will work again if you do the same thing next time."

"Y-yes."

Christiana gazed at Emma, who still hadn't grasped the situation, with a gentle expression.To a perplexed Emma, Christiana said, "I had been watching you since the Alias incident, but I never expected you to rise this far."

Planet Alias... the planet Emma was first dispatched to.

"That's..." As she left, Christiana called out to Emma one last time.

"Keep up the good work, Major Rodman."

After the two left, Emma, who had suddenly been informed of her promotion, came to a sudden realization several tens of seconds later.

"Huh? Wait, did I get promoted!? Is this a mistake or a joke, or something?"

Alisun seemed frustrated by Emma's slowness to realize it.

"It's not a mistake, and it's not a joke. I knew you had connections upstairs, but you're truly something else. Why on earth are you still with the technical test squadron?"

Perhaps out of anger, Alisun's voice was louder than usual.Emma pouted and retorted, "The Merea is a good unit!"

"You just don't know any better! Besides, how can you create a situation like this and then get promoted to Major before me?! You're truly irritating!"

Emma, who had been subjected to a barrage of insults, had grown thick-skinned compared to her rookie days.She deliberately put a hand to her mouth, adopting a mocking attitude towards Alisun.

"I'm so sorry that someone like me got promoted first, Captain Alisun." She deliberately emphasized the "Captain" part.

Alisun, faced with Emma, who was now her superior, felt her clenched fists tremble.

"...You have quite the personality. I think you'd be a bit cuter if you were more charming."

Emma retorted with a straight face, "That's my line."