"Very good. Then, please unfold the 'Leaves of the World Tree'."

"learn!"

Following Kannazuki's instructions, the invisible barrier surrounding 'Fraxis' gradually disappeared.

Similarly, or a thousand meters above the island of America. From the bridge of the DEM 500-meter-class airship 'Arbatel', the crew's cry rang out.

'Captain, the radar is responding! "

'Is it an airplane? ’

"No...this is an air battleship!"

"What did you say?" Paddington, who was leaning on the captain's seat, frowned in surprise. At the same time, an image of the sky was also displayed on the main screen.

Not a plane or something, but an air battleship. Behind the sharp-edged hull, there were several pieces that looked like radiators, reminiscent of giant trees.

"Where did it come from?"

"Suddenly there was a reaction. I'm afraid... it was an invisible camouflage."

"What did you say? Identify the signal?"

"The identification signal is unknown. It is impossible to confirm the aircraft type it belongs to among the ships made by the DEM company."

Paddington frowned and stroked his beard.

"It's actually an airship with invisible camouflage... How can it be, DEM's successful use of random fields to become invisible is only a recent thing."

At this time, the ship's heat-dissipating plate-like thing displayed on the screen was expelled and floated independently in the air. In the next instant, the ship disappeared from the air again as if it had completed its mission.

"Reaction, gone!" The crew monitoring the radar shouted.

The fact that the unidentified ship was equipped with invisible camouflage was already confirmed.

"Could it be they..." Paddington opened his eyes in surprise.

Heard it before. The name of the only organization other than DEM that owns a display device.

"Ratatosk"!

After Paddington said that name, the crew on the bridge all gasped.

As long as it belongs to the second executive department of DEM, the shadow execution unit of the DEM company, it is not surprising to hear about it.

That's right. Paddington himself had heard of its existence. From Aizac. I heard from this man Westcott.

In Japan, there is an organization with more advanced technology than DEM.

In Japan, there is an insane group that intends to solve the space earthquake by peaceful means.

In Japan—that is, the enemy of DEM.

"If you find it, annihilate it immediately." After Paddington said this sentence, he laughed.

"I see, I'm lucky." While saying this, he stood up on the spot and gave instructions to the crew.

"Prepare the main guns! Ashcroft-β, the tenth to twentyth units are activated to generate magic power! The target is... the unidentified battleship that has disappeared!"

"Captain... Still seeking instructions from the executive director?" One of the crew members said with a distorted face.

Paddington frowned impatiently. Could it be that the words of that ignorant little girl are more important than me?

With this thought in mind, Paddington said: "It's okay! It's enough to carry out the task of the Minister and leave it to the 'Bandersnatch' team! As long as this is ensured, there will be no problem!"

"Understood!" Overwhelmed by Paddington's tone, the crew began to operate the console.

"Main cannon, magic charging is over!"

"Target, the unknown ship to which it belongs has disappeared from the airspace!"

"The invisible camouflage is removed! The random field is changed to the impact attribute!"

While confirming the voices of the crew members, Paddington pointed at the screen and muttered.

"shooting!"

Being hit, the bridge of 'Fraxis' shook violently like an earthquake. There was a noise on the screen, and the emergency notification sounded.

The 'Fraxis' crewman——Hinako Shiizaki couldn't help but hold her head with both hands. The shock, which he had never experienced so far, caused his mind to become confused in an instant.

"The random field on the port side has been reduced by twenty percent!"

"The output of the No. 3 unit has dropped! The damage to the body is slight! However, what is going on?"

In the bridge, the voices of the sailors kept staggering.

"What was it just now...?" Hinako shouted in a sharp voice, but Kanazuki, who was standing beside the captain's seat, just hummed and stroked her chin. Even though he was shaking so badly, his posture still didn't change at all.

"Hmm, it looks like I've been attacked. Even if it's close to this level and still can't recognize the reaction...Is there an invisible camouflage over there? It's strange. The display devices other than us should technically be Impossible..."

"The heat source response is confirmed! The second blow is coming!"

"Oooooh——Remove invisible camouflage and automatic evasion. Please turn all the magic power generated by the basic display device into a defensive random field.

"Understood!" At the same time as the crew shouted, the attributes of the random field that unfolded around 'Fraxis' changed from invisible camouflage to defensiveness.

In an instant, the shock hit the bridge again.

"Does the defensive barrier still have this kind of power?" Kawagoe, who was sitting on the lower section of the bridge, groaned with a wrinkled face.

"With such a direct attack, you seem to be quite confident in the ship's performance. Hmm...that's really good, my body is numb. Ahh, be more intense!" Kannayuki was not nervous. Saying this in his tone, he clenched his shoulders and twisted his body.

Sure enough, this man. Hiniko narrowed her eyes and operated the console beside her. If this goes on, the ship will be sunk. Open secret lines for emergency contact.

Soon after, the image of Commander Wuhe Qinli appeared on the screen.

"Shizaki? What's wrong, a secret line was used. What happened?"

"Emergency! Commander, please, please execute the command...!" After Hinako said this aggressively, Kotori's face became stern.

"Could it be that Shen Wuyue chose some strange option that made Tohka's mood worse?"

"No, it's something more serious."

"So, what happened?.... Could it be that Kannayuki was one step ahead of her school trip and performed a striptease in front of her brother and the others!"

Kotori said with a trembling expression. Hinako desperately shook her head left and right.

"No, it's the enemy. An unidentified airship appeared and we were attacked. If this goes on, 'Fraxis' will..." Hinako said desperately.

The moment she heard Hinako speak, Kotori narrowed her eyes as if she had lost interest.

"I thought something big happened, but that's what happened." After speaking, Kotori sighed. Then he said, "I thought that idiot must have done something stupid. Shocked."

"But Commander...!" Hinako shouted loudly.

In order to stop Hinako, Kotori spread her hands and said, "It doesn't matter, don't worry so much."

"Why are you so calm?" Hinako said in a hopeless state, Kotori shrugged slightly and opened her lips: "Because here, isn't there a **** and no moon?"