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

I'll answer your question...

You wanted to know why I'm here?

I came to take you, Yatori,

from this land without a future.

A Stormy Encounter

Ikta.

Ikta!

Wake up, Ikta!

What do you want, Kus?

You're boarding a ship to go to an island,

so you can't just run there at the last second!

Lady Yatori!

Are you headed for the high-level officer exams?

Yes. I haven't seen all of you since our graduation.

Her relatives live in the east of Katjvarna.

The eastern garrison is fighting the Kioka Republic's invasion, right?

They're having a hard time with the new enemy forces,

but the garrison's commander is the famous

Lieutenant General Hazaf Rikan.

Every hero dies from overwork.

You should get those relatives out of there.

That place is going to fall to the Kioka army in less than a month.

Ikta Solork?

Hey, what do you mean by that?

Exactly what I said.

Lieutenant General Rikan's garrison is fighting

with everything they have right now!

A defeatist like you would never understand, though, would you?

You've got me there.

How dare you!

Now, now. Calm down, everyone.

It's almost time, so I must get going.

I'm relieved that you actually showed up,

and also that you didn't slack on the first exams.

Well, you said you'd get me an easy job as a librarian

at the national library with your family connections.

So, you think it will fall?

The garrison may have defense, but they're not an offensive threat.

All because the emperor and cabinet have no real intention of going to war—

That's enough.

Still, asking me to take the second exam and rig it so you do well?

It's pretty sneaky, and totally unlike you.

As the eldest daughter of the Igsem family,

I need the honor of passing at the top of my class.

I hear that my rival in this race is the Remeon family's youngest,

so it's best to be cautious.

Yeah, yeah, I'll do my best.

This is the last time I want to have anything to do with the army.

Right. That's the kind of guy you've always been.

Igsem?

Like the Field Marshal?!

M-My name is Haroma Becker.

This is my partner, the water spirit Mil.

It's nice to meet you, Ms. Igsem and Mr. Solork.

People using my family name makes me queasy,

so just Yatori is fine.

In that case, please call me Haro.

As you wish, Haro.

You're trying to become a combat medic?

That's exactly right.

Embarrassingly enough, this is my third attempt at the exams.

Ikta Solork.

What are you doing here?

So you passed, too?

Matthew Tetdrich.

His partner is the wind sprite Tsu.

He also went to school with us.

If you've heard of the Tetdrichs, let him know.

It'd make him very happy.

What kind of introduction is that?!

Whether one's heard of us or not,

we Tetdrichs have been a distinguished military family for generations!

T-Tetdrich, is it?

Um, I think I've heard of it, or maybe not...

Oh, come on, Matthew.

We can't tell if you're famous or not, and that's the perfect position for you.

It's not like comedians need to be known everywhere.

Um... Is Ikta from a noble family, as well?

Who're you calling a comedian?!

Solork is the name of an orphanage.

Not only am I a commoner,

I don't even have a father or mother.

I was found passed out on the roadside

by Kus, who used to work at the Solork Orphanage at the time.

I'm so sorry...

Please call me Ikky, as a mark of our friendship.

O-Okay... Um, my hand...

Oh? It appears that your fingers are a bit rough.

Do you do housework often?

I have five younger brothers, and I'm the oldest sister...

Please don't pinch my ear lobe!

Please leave my hair alone!

Try to pick up girls some other time, Ikta.

Are you all right?

Ikta has this bad habit.

If you don't stop him, he'll fondle your boobs

and try to take you to bed.

B-Boobs?!

It looks like I'm in this room, too.

May I come in?

Of course you can't.

Huh?

Go back to your own turf, pretty boy.

Please, come in.

We were all just introducing ourselves.

My name is Torway Remeon.

This is the wind sprite Saphy.

Pleased to meet you.

It's a difficult exam, but let's all do our best.

I see... So you're...

I'm Yatorishino Igsem.

This is Shia, my partner.

That's all I need to say, isn't it?

I see. That flame-colored hair...

You're the Igsem family's eldest!

Don't get cocky, you two.

The Igsem infantry and the Remeon gunners

aren't where it's at anymore!

Don't get haughty because your families are famous!

Um, who are you?

Matthew Tetdrich!

Don't forget that name, youngest of the Remeons!

I'm good at remembering people's names.

Can I call you Matty?

Huh?!

And you are?

There's no need for two hunters at one hunting ground.

You were brought before appearance court, and they declared you guilty!

The charges were:

being too sexy!

Uh...

It is written in the scriptures of the Aledelans...

Suffer not a hottie to live!

That could get you tried for heresy, you know.

This is Ikta Solork.

He habitually tries to scare off any handsome man he sees.

Don't let it bother you.

Are you two friends?

We've just known each other for a long time.

Nice to meet you, Ikta.

May I call you Ikky?

Nope!

She's the only one who can call me that.

Huh? Me?

Her name is Haroma Becker.

She wants to command a medic squad

and has five younger brothers at home.

She's a very good girl. I guarantee it.

Th-That introduction's likely to cause a misunderstanding...

I see.

I get it now.

What do you "get"?

Solork!

Now that we've finished our introductions,

let's make ourselves at home.

Damn it! I lost again!

Why did I lose?

Um, I think it was...

Twenty-one moves ago, my dear friend Matthew.

When you forced your riflemen into the enemy lines.

You memorized the whole match, Ikky?

You can't even see the board from there.

Don't call me that!

Tea's ready, everyone.

It's rocking a lot.

Thank you, Yatori.

So you're playing Military Chess, huh?

How many times did Matthew lose?

Why are you assuming I lost?!

Does it matter?

A master chess player isn't necessarily a master general.

That's right.

And if actual soldiers are playing,

it should be blindfolded chess.

Ikky, why is th—

No calling me Ikky!

In a real battle,

can a general get a bird's-eye-view of the battlefield?

No, most of the time he has to estimate

the location of the enemy based off limited information.

Even the soldiers under his command may not faithfully execute his orders.

That's right.

What a soldier needs is imagination,

which allows him to use fragmented information to envision the whole.

Blindfolded chess can at least create the base for that.

Have some tea before it gets cold.

Thank you, Haro!

Ow, that's hot!

Is someone there?

Are you okay?

You don't look like you're here for the exam.

E-Excuse me!

There shouldn't be any civilians aboard this ship.

What do you think, Ikta?

Five to six years before she's ready to eat,

and maybe fifteen before she's fully ripe?

I wasn't asking about your personal preferences.

Wh-What was that?

Grab only what you really need and head to the deck.