Nejimaki Seirei Senki: Tenkyou no Alderamin (Alderamin on the Sky)

I guess they deserve credit for arriving earlier than expected.

So, they took up a river-defense formation?

If we're both the same strength, the first side to attack loses.

We'll be staring at each other for a while.

Brother, why not have the men test the river's depth?

I know how deep the Kuriri river is.

The river's swollen from the rain now, so it's about chest high...

A squad is leaving the formation.

Solork's platoon?

There's a shallow spot upriver.

He's planning to send his men around and strike us from behind.

Warrant Officer Yatorishino!

Yes, sir.

Your squad is to head upriver to intercept.

Isn't it risky to split up our forces now?

There's a river between us.

As long as we don't make the first move, we have the advantage.

The enemy chose this location.

Don't you think it's too naive to assume it would help us?

Shut up!

Obey your superior officer's orders!

These guys are child's play for you, aren't they, Ikta?

Okay, sadistic hottie.

Get ready.

Watchdogs of the Spirit Tree

Warrant Officer, should we really stop instead of heading to the objective?

If they're here, we can intercept them,

and if they're not, we can get back to the main force in short order.

Right now, we should wait for the scout report.

No sign of the enemy unit.

Was it a trap?

Let's tell Warrant Officer Yatorishino!

What?

They just sent scouts, huh?

But, if nothing else,

we've lured Yatori-san as far away from their main unit as possible.

That's the signal.

All troops, prepare to fire!

Okay!

All forces, charge!

Make a bridge in the river?

Yup. An underwater bridge.

This is called an Isu tree.

It's very heavy and sturdy.

We'll sink it in the water.

The water's muddy, so they won't be able to see it.

Basically, we'll be the only ones to know

that the river isn't protecting anyone.

It can't be that shallow!

Brother, your orders.

F-Fire! Open fire!

Just as the Warrant Officer said,

the enemy is unable to handle this sudden attack.

And we have three platoons, against their two.

Get out of the way if you're dead!

Retreat!

Keep firing as you retreat!

Gotcha!

Looks like I made it in time!

Yatori's here already?

Okay, everyone! Fighting time's over!

Retreat!

We're changing position!

Defend our retreating allies and get to the northern forest!

Two Hours After the Battle

I'm back, Ikkun.

From the look of it, things went well.

Yeah, I guess it was a success.

And don't call me Ikkun!

Hey, Matthew.

You still alive?

Yeah.

Somehow.

We took out a lot of their men,

so do you think they'll surrender?

With the sadistic hottie running things,

he might make them fight to the last man.

Unless we can kill him.

Let's change our formation.

Haro, tend to the wounded.

Y-You noticed us here?

Okay, since it looks like the battle's over...

Excuse us.

What was the plan if the enemy checked the depth of the river first?

He knows this training area so well that the odds he'd do that were low.

Well, if he'd tried,

our air rifles would have chased them off.

I'll get the survivors together.

Yeah, thanks.

Looks like you got him good, Solork.

You should've seen the look on his face.

We're still doing our training exercise.

Get lost, please, Princess.

Damn it!

Yatorishino!

You should have been there sooner!

I'm sorry.

If you've got a squad that can move faster,

I'd like to see it.

Brother.

What's our next move?

They should be coming for us.

We'll ambush them on the road to the west,

and then catch them in a pincer attack!

Enjoy your victory while you can, Ikta Solork!

I'll punch that smug grin right off your stupid face!

He's probably saying something like that and burning for revenge right now.

That said, we're not pursuing.

How do we win, then?

Suya, first get rid of the idea that we're chasing the enemy.

Chasing someone is tiring,

and being chased is mentally exhausting.

But making someone chase you can be fun.

War is just like love that way.

One Hour Later

What's going on?

Do they not plan on actually fighting?

R-Reporting in!

The enemy's three platoons have deployed their troops

to seal the north exit of the forest!

What are they playing at?

They got us.

They've cut off our escape route, Captain.

At some point, we have to use the north exit to get to the Central Base.

If they've got the exit sealed at the end of the mock battle,

we'll lose because we won't even be able to get home.

So they'll just win by default?

We're heading to the northern exit!

There they are.

Okay, all units,

make it look like you're ready to fire.

But in fact, be ready to charge.

Don't get too far ahead,

and be sure to work with the person next to you.

Compared to the value of teamwork,

the honor of being the first inside their lines is nothing.

Come on, line up!

Brother, we're charging?

Yeah.

The boundary line of the combat zone is behind them.

If even a single one of them crosses that line,

they lose for breaking the rules!

Listen up, men.

Even if you die, don't fall down immediately.

Pretend you didn't notice and push them back!

Now that's against the rules...

Shh!

Okay, all forces, charge!

Torway, you bastard!

All troops, charge!

Lieutenant Sushuraf,

the Captain has fallen.

Take command.

Very well.

There's no way to win this battle.

We'll break through and escape!

Open us a path, Yatorishino!

Understood!

All troops, charge!

I can't believe it.

Does this mean we...

We couldn't wipe them out,

but you could say we won, yeah.

We really...

Okay, everyone, quiet down.

Now it's lecture time for my beloved men.

Private First Class Gwemp.

Private First Class Aigi.

Private Bio.

Corporal Tobai.

Come up to the front.

You guys,

I clearly warned you beforehand,

and you still charged too far ahead.

What the hell was that?

Ikta's platoon doesn't need heroes.

Instead of trying to win one-on-three,

come up with a way to fight three-on-one.

That's the scientific way of thinking.

"Scientific?"

What does that mean?