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

The Imperial Army quickly gave up on a real counterattack,

and put all their energy into buying time for the retreat,

even if they had to burn an entire forest.

Who was it that was capable of making a desperate plan like that succeed?

It's not Lieutenant General Safida of the Northern Garrison.

If he was capable of a plan like that,

we wouldn't have had an opening to begin with.

Incompetence at the top causes a tragedy.

It's very common.

If you go through history books, sometimes you'll see the opposite.

A rare hero, forced to serve an incompetent general,

reveals his genius within the flames of war.

Behind that fire, we'll find him.

Jean, you are happy to face a competent foe?

I want to see something I've never seen before.

Everybody's like that, aren't they?

Lazy vs. Unsleeping

Solork?

Solork?

Imperial Base, South End of Northern Region

It's been a month...

What are you doing, Solork?

Princess Chamille!

An urgent report.

The La Saia Alderamin forces have crossed

the Great Alafatra mountain range to attack!

The Holy Army of Aldera?

Solork...

It's time.

Let's have a battle.

A battle?

Didn't we burn down the forest to avoid that, because they outnumber us?

That's correct, Matthew.

The operation with the fire's going well.

The enemy set fires of their own to burn it out,

but that's not going to make any dramatic change.

In that case, if we just watch and make sure the flame doesn't die...

Then the enemy will go around the forest.

Is that possible?

Nana, can you explain the details?

The Alafatra Mountains are our turf.

Beyond the west edge of Gagal Kasakan Forest,

there's a thin mountain path.

It's too small for many to pass at once.

But if you exercise proper caution...

They can come out near the back of our camp.

That ghost squad, Kala Karm,

probably told the enemy the same thing.

We need to keep them focused on us

so they don't start thinking about going around.

Hence, we fight now?

Correct.

This is obnoxious.

A way around?

It's a course we didn't plan for,

and it will take forever.

Adaptability is the core element of warfare.

Don't talk like a textbook.

We'll send another unit down that other route...

It's too early to send another unit, I believe.

Why not wait a while longer?

You, kid?

I haven't asked for you yet today.

How silly.

When you're as good as I am,

it's possible to come before you're called.

That's called disobeying orders and acting on your own.

So, what is it?

Why do you want me to wait?

Going around isn't a good option for them, either.

The longer route means their attack will be delayed.

But the time they'll lose isn't enough for us to escape.

To buy time for the main unit to retreat,

I want to pin the enemy down here for a minimum of eight days.

Reporting.

The fires to our front are dying down.

What?

If we went out now,

we could have them put out by nightfall.

Well?

The situation's changed, right?

They want us to go that way.

Doesn't it seem like that's what they're saying?

Worried about Kala Karm?

I suppose so.

Captain, one of my hands has a walnut in it.

Guess which.

The time you just wasted choosing between two hands

is the same as the time you wasted worrying about ghosts.

Not scientific at all.

The essence of a ghost lies in the fear that it may or may not be there.

That fear paralyzes us and stops us from making bold moves.

Please understand that that's part of the ghost squad's attack.

Yeah.

I'm too old to be scared of ghosts.

I'll be on my way to my post, then.

It's hot.

It's like I'm in a boiling pot in hell.

The enemy could be here at any minute.

You're a fool.

You really think you can win against a force of 12,000 men,

with a single battalion of 600 and 120 Sinack?

The Unsleeping, Shining Officer...

He may be the true genius of this era.

If so, the time has come for the bloom to come off your rose...

Shut up!

Stop whispering to me!

Nothing.

We can't give them the chance to attack first.

Beams on!

Open fire!

Fire!

Damn it!

There are so many of them already!

We need to defeat more

while Ikkun and the others have their attention!

I can't really see the fight from here!

Can't we get closer?

No need to hurry.

The odds we'll make it past their defenses are good.

That's why I took them up on their invitation.

Hey, wait for the signal and then send in the second wave.

Once you see 60 stakes, send it out.

That's right, isn't it, kid?

Yes.

I doubt we'll be able to cross that wall via brute force.

Let's follow the plan.

Stakes to block bullets?

The first wave's goal was to put those up?

That's not good!

They're blocking the cannon's trajectory!

Captain, a word!

Send us out to fight them up close!

We'll rip out those stakes!

It's too early to fight hand-to-hand!

The positioning of the stakes...

doesn't it look like they're trying to carry something past the cannons?

It's probably preparations for a second wave!

It can't be...

Fine!

But don't push yourself too hard!

That goes for you too, Nanaku Daru!

Got it!

Cannons trajectories are raised!

Here we go!

Okay!

Defend Yatori's and the Sinack's unit at all costs!

Stay the hell off our mountain!

Nanaku Daru, you're going too far ahead!

Leave me alone, Red One!

I'm not counting on your help!

The enemy waves withdrew...

Why?

Let's go pull out the farthest stakes!

Air guns?

But they're out of range...

No, Nanaku Daru!

Don't stop!

Keep firing!

Yeah! That was the best timing!

Jean, get your head down!

Mm... that was a very accurate counterattack.

Looks like they have an air rifle unit, too.

I thought the Empire didn't have the technology to make air rifles.

Doctor Anarai Kahn, the man who told us how to make them,

was an Imperial researcher, right?

He probably still has pupils there.

It would make sense if they developed them, too.

We did our job.

The enemy is busy recovering their wounded.

Yeah!

Now they can't lower their cannons

until they're finished with that.

Thank you, Captain Harrah.

We can finally end this.