Chapter 85 – Overwhelming the Sky

Gowuun, gowuun, gowuun…!

Nasser was also carrying out the final checks on his drop equipment, preparing to jump together with the paratroopers.

Parachute, check. Equipment, check. Preparations, check. Everything, check!

──Now then, let us be off!!

Bummel’s dragon flew alongside the tactical transport aircraft cruising through the sky.

As the deep, thunderous roar of the tactical transport aircraft and the『Paratrooper Song』shook the heavens──Nasser and the paratrooper unit flew over the frontline city as though deliberately showing off the bizarre sight of dragons and transport aircraft flying together in perfect formation.

The city below was in an uproar.

After all, the combined roar of thirty 640-horsepower engines mounted on the large number of transport aircraft was pounding against the earth, so the spectacle must have been nothing short of overwhelming.

For those traveling through the sky, there was hardly any meaningful difference in distance between the cavalry regiment’s garrison and the frontline city, but to the people looking up from below, it probably appeared as though dragons had come to attack the frontline city──.

But that was not their intention──for now, at least.

Nasser’s sole objective was the cavalry regiment where Liz was most likely being held and one thing alone──to secure her in person.

“Ho-hoh. You’re certainly making it as flashy as you said you would.”

“…This is still just the beginning.”

──That’s right. We haven’t even opened hostilities yet.

Nasser muttered to himself as he pulled his paratrooper scarf up over his mouth.

His equipment was almost identical to that of the paratroopers, though he was just a little more heavily armed than they were.

“Hoh? Big words. After putting on such a grand display like this──”

Bummel gazed intently at the transport aircraft flying alongside them on both sides.

…If I remember correctly, the aircraft that fought Bummel was a Bf 109 G-6 fighter, wasn’t it? Maybe that was why the transport planes seemed so unusual to him.

“…Don’t get too close. Unlike dragons, those things are delicate.”

“Kah!──You don’t need to tell me that! …Still, this is incredible. There are soldiers riding inside those iron monstrosities? I haven’t the faintest idea how they even manage to fly.”

──Like hell if I know either, Nasser thought.

Bummel watched the German soldiers aboard the transport aircraft with a face brimming with curiosity.

The German soldiers, on the other hand, appeared to have absolutely no interest in Bummel whatsoever. Neither the crew nor the troops so much as twitched.

“…Bummel. I appreciate the help, but don’t interfere.”

They would soon reach the airspace above the target, but this was Nasser’s battle….Though it already felt like Bummel had done more than enough to turn his bow against the Kingdom, it wasn’t as though he had actually become one of Nasser’s comrades.

He was merely lending Nasser a hand──and Bummel undoubtedly had some scheme of his own, using Nasser for whatever purpose he had in mind.

“Kah-kah-kah! You needn’t say another word. I’ve no intention of interfering.”

“…Good, then.”

Nasser couldn’t care less what that old man was plotting. As long as he didn’t get in the way, that was good enough──and if he lent a hand, Nasser would simply be grateful for it.

“In exchange, I think I’ll enjoy watching to my heart’s content──this battle of the 『German Army』 you speak of!!”

Heh.

Just what I want──.

“Yeah… I’ll show you all right! As much as you want!”

It wasn’t as though he intended to live up to Bummel’s expectations, but he would show him plenty!

The first airborne operation ever carried out in this other world!

Suu…

“──One minute until the drop begins!!”

『『『Roger!!』』』

The responses from the transport aircraft were clear and energetic. Apparently, there were no problems with the radios whatsoever──as expected of German-made equipment.

And gradually drawing nearer was the cavalry regiment’s garrison──…or rather, the outskirts beyond it.

In other words, the DP (Drop Point).

‘All right…! Just a little longer! Hang in there, Liz…!’

The vast grounds of the cavalry regiment glowed beneath the light of dawn and somewhere in there, that girl was….

“Liz…”

…I’m coming.

…I’ll be there soon!

So, so… just wait for me────.

“Li────”

“Nggh?!…N-Numerous magical reactions have appeared?! This is bad…Nasser!! It seems we’ve got company!!”

Huh…?

“C-Company…?!”

“F-From where?!”

F-From the front──!!

In that instant, directly ahead──a shadow blotted out the faint sunlight shining beyond the horizon!

Countless black masses burst out from within that shadow and scattered!!

“W-What are those────?!”

…Damn it!!

It happened at the exact moment Nasser and the paratroopers, ready to make their drop, had placed their hands on the edges of the airborne doors and were about to begin the countdown to deployment.

Because they had been so focused on the drop, their aerial surveillance had grown lax, and as though the enemy had anticipated exactly that, contact came at the worst possible moment!!

“Tchiiiiii!!”

Only now did an intensely powerful surge of mana wash over them, prickling painfully against his skin. Nasser grimaced as black shadows leapt into his field of vision!

That silhouette looked strangely familiar, accompanied by the flapping sound of membranous wings striking his ears──…D-Dragons?! You’ve got to be kidding me?!

Since when had the field division established the capability to deploy dragons?!

GIEEEEEEEEE…!!

Ignoring Nasser’s confusion, with guttural beastly cries, a swarm of dragon-like flying creatures seemed to pour forth as though being born from the very sun itself. They scattered overhead with a pah!──and then attacked all at once!!

──A-Above usssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!