Early morning.
The day had finally arrived. Because they were scheduled to depart at dawn, the members of the Special Selection Unit Astral were gathering.
It was currently ten minutes before the appointed time. Under normal circumstances, everyone would have been present by now, but Ray and Lydia were running late. Though, everyone was well aware that the blame for the delay lay squarely with Lydia.
"That Lydia... she really is a piece of work."
"But Ray-chan is with her, so it'll be fine~!"
As Abby and Carol chatted, the two missing members came rushing toward the assembly point.
"Forgive me. Am I just in time?"
Lydia appeared, looking entirely nonchalant. Ray followed behind her, but his face was etched with a deep exhaustion.
"Master... please, give me a break. You showed absolutely no sign of waking up. I was starting to panic."
"My bad, my bad! It’s been a while since I had to get up at this hour!"
She offered an apology, but she didn't look remotely remorseful. Ray let out a heavy sigh. This was nothing new, but even on a day as important as today, he was a little fed up with Lydia’s tendency to do things entirely at her own pace.
"Lydia. You really are..."
"Now Abby, don't be so angry. I got here within the time limit, didn't I?"
"You had Ray wake you, didn't you?"
"Well, yes. But that’s how it always is!"
"...Honestly. It’s terrifying to think what would happen if Ray wasn't around."
Abby put a hand to her forehead and shook her head with a weary sigh. Her concerns were spot on, but since Ray had said he would handle it, she was relieved that things had worked out somehow.
Even though they were about to participate in the Far East Campaign in earnest, she wondered if they would truly be all right with this level of discipline... though at this point, there was little left to say regarding Lydia.
Lydia had already reached her peak as one of the Seven Grand Sorcerers, and her ability as a sorcerer was preeminent. Her prowess was such that she was already hailed as perhaps the strongest even among the Seven Grand Sorcerers.
Of course, her personality and lifestyle habits were another matter entirely.
"Alright. Everyone is here."
The one who spoke up was Henrick. Flor, standing beside him, stared intently at Lydia, but she refrained from saying anything for the moment.
"I will say it again: as of today, our unit will be joining the Far East Campaign. Our assignment is the front lines. While the Special Selection Unit Astral will often operate independently, the chance of coordinating with other units is not zero. I want you to be prepared."
"Understood!"
After everyone replied in unison, they finally set off for the theater of the Far East Campaign.
Since they were deploying at the request of other nations, a temporary Kingdom Army base had been established near the battlefield. The neighboring countries that had been suppressing the Far East Campaign were already exhausted, their military strength significantly depleted.
Consequently, by forming a formal alliance with the Kingdom, the Special Selection Unit Astral had been dispatched.
The terrain of the Far East was largely mountainous, and it was currently the rainy season. The fighting was concentrated primarily in these mountain regions, which sat adjacent to the Ewell Empire.
It had started as a small spark. That spark had spread, and the current objective was to subdue the soldiers who had devolved into a rampaging mob. The Ewell Empire had also announced it would dispatch troops to help extinguish the conflict, but seeing as the flames of war continued to spread regardless, the Kingdom Army had stepped in as well.
Many had already realized the truth: the Ewell Empire was the one pulling the strings behind the entire conflict. Though it appeared to be a clash between small nations, this battlefield was the first instance of a war fought with sorcery. By exporting sorcery as weaponry, the Empire was reaping immense wealth.
This was information obtained from reliable sources—secrets that had not been made public. Only a few within the military were privy to it.
Naturally, that included the Special Selection Unit Astral.
"This conflict... no, this war. Doesn't it smell strangely fishy to you?"
Inside the carriage during their journey, Lydia was the one who spoke. Since it was a long trip, they were taking turns sleeping.
As it was currently Lydia and Abby’s turn to be awake, they spoke in hushed tones so as not to disturb the others.
"Why do you say that?"
"I know the Ewell Empire is behind it. And I know they're circulating sorcery technology to spread the flames of war. I understand that massive amounts of wealth are changing hands. But is that really their only goal?"
"...I’ve had similar thoughts. The Ewell Empire is already said to be the greatest power in the world. The Kingdom is still held in high regard because of its history, but economically, that country has likely already overtaken us. So I wonder... why would they bother seeking more profit at this stage?"
"It’s hard to believe their greed is simply in a state of acceleration, isn't it?"
"Yes. A nation that acted on such simple impulses could never have achieved that level of development."
The two continued their discussion.
Lydia and Abby were beginning to suspect that there was another motive behind this war.
As Abby pointed out, the Ewell Empire was likely already the world leader in economic terms. While it was understandable to seek more profit, intervening in a war carried immense risk.
Why go so far?
When weighing the risks against the rewards, simple profit didn't seem to justify the gamble. If the fact that they were fueling the war ever became public, international condemnation would be unavoidable.
Economic sanctions, such as a total halt in trade, were a real possibility. Why, then, would they intervene in the Far East Campaign? While the two women had not yet reached the core of the matter, they were certain there was something more.
"Is it related to sorcery after all?"
"Lydia. Do you know something?"
"No, it’s just a hunch. But... Ray said it, didn't he? That he felt like he was being called."
"Yes."
"I have that same feeling. Besides, I told you about that girl I met when we went to the Empire, didn't I?"
"...The girl you encountered in that underground area?"
"That’s the one."
Lydia spoke of that encounter once more. It was information that must never reach Ray’s ears.
She cast a brief glance toward the sleeping Ray. Then, taking a piece of paper, she let her pen glide across it.
"..."
Abby checked the note. It read:
That girl possessed Prima Materia of the same quality as Ray's.
"Is this... is this true?"
"Most likely... no, with my level of ability, I couldn't see the full picture. I even hesitated over whether to include it in the report."
"Why didn't you share it? This is vital information."
"...I wonder why. I know it’s important. But at the same time, I felt as if I were peering into Pandora's Box..."
Lydia’s hands were trembling. Seeing this, Abby realized the situation was far from ordinary and did not press her further.
"If anything happens, I'll report it immediately. But I don't think this war is going to end simply."
"Is that a hunch too?"
"Yeah. Are you going to laugh?"
"No. Your intuition has always been sharp, Lydia. I trust it."
"I only hope we all make it back safely."
"I agree..."
The conversation ended there.
The carriage swayed as it rolled onward. What awaited them at their destination? Lost in thought, the two women stared out at the sky.
"..."
Meanwhile, Ray was only pretending to be asleep. Though he lay on his side with rhythmic breathing, his mind was sharp and alert.
Reflecting on the conversation he had just overheard, he realized he felt the same way. Ray, too, believed there was something waiting ahead. It wasn't based on evidence. It was nothing more than a premonition.
And so, the Far East Campaign—a conflict that would leave a massive scar upon the world—finally began.