Chapter 76: Air Superiority
“Well then… it seems the nuisance is finally gone.”
After Marshal Carland had been dragged away, General Newsbeck spoke again, her tone noticeably lighter—almost as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
“Let’s return to our seats. We have much to discuss about what comes next.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I nodded and moved back to my original position, sitting down across from her once more.
“Our victory condition cannot simply be repelling the Friez Kingdom’s second offensive… that alone will not suffice. We must also reclaim the mining region. Without that, we will inevitably lose in a prolonged war.”
“That’s true.”
Resources directly translate into how long a nation can keep fighting.
And we had lost the most critical resource zone in the Lunoa Kingdom. It was a devastating blow—one that could not be left unaddressed. We had to take it back.
“I’ve received reports that the Friez Kingdom’s advance has been halted to a certain extent. There are few users of flight magic, and once the initial panic was contained and troop formations reinforced, the situation stabilized somewhat. Still… it’s far from safe.”
“But I’ve succeeded in reproducing flight magic.”
“And that changes everything. We can now do to them what they did to us. You said you can see mana, correct? Then perhaps you can assess others—determine their aptitude—and gather those suited for flight magic?”
“That’s possible. I was actually planning to request permission for that. Give me two weeks… no—one week should be enough to assemble a minimal force of flight-capable users.”
“As expected of you! Truly… what an extraordinary ability.”
She wasn’t wrong.
If this was something only I could do, then yes—it was nothing short of absurd.
By observing how a person handled their mana, I could tell, to a certain degree, whether they were suited for a particular kind of magic. Whether they could use it—or not.
“Hm… what would be the best way to describe this…? Yes. We shall move to seize air superiority. We will claim the skies as our own—and return to them exactly what they’ve done to us!”
General Newsbeck struck her open palm with a clenched fist, a sharp, decisive sound echoing through the room.
A fierce light burned in her eyes—resolve, ambition, and something close to anticipation.
“Still… even that may not be enough. The Friez Kingdom is pushing itself hard. There must be an opening somewhere… We could utilize reconnaissance aircraft, track their movements closely, and adapt our troop deployments accordingly… but even that feels lacking…”
“…General Newsbeck.”
Where should we play our trump card?
There was only one answer.
And I was certain of it.
“Hm? What is it? Do you have a better idea?”
“Rather than waiting for an opening… rather than trying to exploit a weakness—why not take a simpler approach?”
“…Oh?”
“We crush them. With overwhelming strength.”
“…I see.”
“I’ve been making preparations behind the scenes for exactly that.”
Meeting the strength in her gaze, I returned it in kind—my voice firm, unwavering, carrying the quiet confidence of someone who had already set the gears in motion.