Guilford, suffering from a stomach ache
Transport Airship Garuda’s test flight safely concluded, and the Sanctuary Knights had begun operational training.
The Transport Airship Garuda was originally made for the Sanctuary Knights, so naturally, they would be the ones to operate it.
Since we couldn’t lend them the Ouranos, a powerful magic weapon, the space for mounting it was a waste.
Laeva was going to accompany the Sanctuary Knights for a while to assist with the Garuda flight training.
Given how training involved frequent takeoffs and landings, the natural regeneration of magic power would definitely not be enough, so the Mage Corps took turns filling the reserve with magic as they boarded.
The knights total magic reserves had increased somewhat during their power leveling, but it was incomparable to the members of the Mage Corps with their increased levels, so the division of roles was working well.
According to Galahad-san, the default relationship between the Knight Order and the Mage Corps was supposed to be bad, but in the Sanctuary, that doesn’t really apply.
「Those chosen by the Great Spirits wouldn’t let such trivial disagreements cause conflicts.」
He said so, laughing.
In reality, the relationship between Valkyra Kingdom’s Knight Order and Mage Corps was apparently horrible.
Anyway, there were some things I had to do before the Sanctuary Knights and the Trination’s knights’ joint training.
One of which being Galahad’s request for a night take off and landing training with the Garuda.
「Night take off and landing?」
「Umu, we need to be prepared to operate it anytime, under any circumstance.」
「W-well, you’re not wrong……」
「Then, I’m making this request.」
That was the conversation we had this morning.
I also thought it would be nice to be able to take off and land at night, so I embedded lighting magic devices as guide lights on the runway.
The lights have to be turned on manually though, I need to figure out a way to turn all the guide lights at once.
While I was at it, I installed exterior lights around the hangar.
Also, once Garuda was complete, we needed to build a simple base in the Demon Continent.
If it was just the Sanctuary Knights, I wouldn’t have cared if they parked it in the same base that’s being managed by the Aligerous Tribe that we have used this entire time.
In fact, when we were exclusively training the Sanctuary Knights in dungeons, we used the Teleport Gate connecting the Sanctuary to that base.
However, we needed a base that the foreign night orders could use long term.
That said, we just set up a barrier, built simple buildings, as well as a hangar and runway.
Of course, we got permission from the various countries within the Demon Continent.
Well, the stance of the inhabitants of the Demon Continent was more “You can do whatever you want outside of our land.” though.
By the time all our preparations were complete, the first to arrive were the knights of Valkyra Kingdom, who were led by Guilford-san.
Was it alright for Guilford-san to be away from the Royal Capital so often?
「Iruma-dono, we will be relying on you once more.」
「Hello, Guilford-san. Welcome.」
I guided the knights to the Sanctuary Knights’ headquarters.
「T-this is…………」
From Guilford-san’s perspective, the Sanctuary Knights’ headquarters looked like it had changed completely.
Three new buildings had been added for the knights to stay in, organized by country.
Each room had four bunkbeds, so it was a bit cramped, but since they wouldn’t be staying long, they will just have to endure it. Of course, officers and high rankers had been provided private rooms.
And above all, the hangar and runway for the Garuda was right next to the training grounds.
I think Guilford-san’s stunned reaction upon seeing the facility double in size in such a short amount of time.
「Please use this building for Valkyra Kingdom. Until the knights of the other countries arrive, feel free to relax in this area. Please refrain from entering other areas. I don’t think it would happen, but anyone caught trespassing in restricted areas will be detained without question.」
「……understood.」
「I believe Galahad-san should be arriving soon as well, so please get the detailed explanation from him.」
「……understood.」
It seemed like Guilford-san was as expressionless as a doll for some reason, I wonder if he’s alright. Well, I’ll leave that to Galahad-san so it should be fine.
Afterwards, when Yggurle Kingdom and Lomaria Kingdom’s knights arrived, they were all asked to gather at the side of the runway.
Including the members of the Sanctuary Knights who were there to lead them, there was a large number of people gathered.
These knights, who were sorted by allegiance and in formation, were dispatched by their countries to the Sanctuary, and had all been able pass through the Great Spirits’ barrier. They were orderly and at attention.
At that moment, the Knight Commander of the Sanctuary Knights, Galahad-san, spoke loudly.
「Let the First Joint Training of the Trination begin!」
At the sound of his voice, the shutter of hangar rose. Once completely open, a deep crimson transport airship, the Garuda, gradually appeared from within.
◇
Only strengthening the knights of Valkyra Kingdom was not something the other two members of the alliance could turn a blind eye to, so it was decided that a joint training exercise involving all members would be conducted.
Since this was the first session, I, as the commander, was responsible for leading it.
「Iruma-dono, we will be relying on you once more.」
「Hello, Guilford-san. Welcome.」
It appears Valkyra Kingdom was the first to arrive.
We’ve been told that until the other two orders arrive, we were to stay in the Sanctuary Knights’ headquarters.
The place that Iruma-dono had personally ushered us to was so astonishing that my mouth hung agape.
「T-this is…………」
It was explained to me that the three buildings with the flags of the Sanctuary Knights were the headquarters of the Fire Spirit Knights, Wind Spirit Knights, and Earth Spirit Knights respectively. There was also the main building that oversees all the knight orders.
It made sense to have a vast training ground there as well.
There were three buildings beyond them that were apparently facilities for us to stay in.
That much was fine.
But what was that wide, flat, empty space, and plain large building?
No, that wasn’t even the main issue.
It should have not been that long since my father had toured me around this area, so how could the facilities more than doubled in size?
Iruma-dono was indifferent towards my bewilderment as he gave an overview. Until all three knight orders from the Trination arrive, we were to stay here. Of course, we knew we were not allowed to wander around. Anyone who would break that rule would have never been selected as a member to begin with.
Yggurle Kingdom and Lomaria Kingdom’s knights arrived eventually arrived, and we all gathered in front of the aforementioned open space.
As expected, they were all people allowed entry into the Sanctuary. There wasn’t the slightest hint of laziness among them.
As we stood in formation, Father appeared before us.
「Let the First Joint Training of the Trination begin!」
As Father declared that in his typical loud voice, something changed in the plain warehouse-like building that I could not make out the purpose of.
Was that a door? If so, then it’s enormous.
Moreover, it was opening upwards.
Where did the door go as it rose?
Then, in the next moment, a commotion erupted among the knights who had been in orderly formation.
From the large opening of the warehouse-like building, a massive crimson red object slowly emerged.
「What is that…… a vehicle?」
Even I, who had actually ridden the Ouranos, was at a loss for words at the massive thing before me.
It was an inevitability that the other countries’ knights were dumbstruck.
I had to question Father about it.
I suppressed the sharp ache in my stomach as I glared at my father’s smug face.
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