Eleven are completed and installed on 1~10 respectively.
The Falcon is a Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft for covert maneuvering and support.
The remaining one is mounted on Jin's beloved <.
The Pegasus 1 is a five-seater, so Jin, Erza, Reiko, Saki, and Goose get on board.
"Okay, let's go!"
A total of eleven airplanes float into the sky of Horai Island and fly toward the west.
The speed of the Falcon is 300 kilometers per hour with its normal engine, the , but it can exceed the speed of sound by using the . .
Pegasus 1 can also reach a speed of 800 km/h with a normal engine, and supersonic speed with a force field generator.
Since Pegasus 1 flies at low altitude, the speed is limited to 1,000 km/h because of concerns about shock waves.
The sky is getting darker and darker as they head west.
It is still before 5:00 a.m. in the Shoro Kingdom. The sky has finally begun to lighten.
After passing over the Shoro Empire, the 11 planes split off in their respective directions. Further to the west, it is not yet dawn.
Jin and the others headed for the first group they spotted.
"We should be able to see them by now.
Jin said as they slowed down to about 100 km/h.
"Father, there's a ravenous grasshopper three kilometers ahead.
Dawn had not yet broken around them.
"All right, let's turn on the trigger lights."
< is a magical tool that Jin made in a hurry after receiving the old man's report, and it emits light in the wavelength that is favored by the ravenous grasshoppers.
It seemed to be particularly effective in the dim light, and the ravenous grasshoppers began to gather like a cloud and haze.
They fly up with their wings and fly toward Pegasus 1. Then they are blocked by the wall of the < and come to a stop.
"You are doing well. <
"Yes, sir."
At Jin's instruction, Goose turns on the ether eliminator.
At that moment, the carnivorous grasshoppers stop moving and fall to the ground.
"Oh, it worked!"
"...... is amazing!"
"Thank goodness Jin is here! I shudder to think what would happen if a swarm like that consumed all the grain.
"No, indeed. Usually, a swarm like that has strength in numbers. ......"
Saki and Goose praise Jin.
"Strength in numbers is at its best when it is dispersed. It would be impractical to defeat such small demons individually, wouldn't it?"
"Your father is right. The most effective tactic is to attack at a range or to destroy them all at once in one place.
While we were having such a conversation, the binge-eating grasshoppers were crashing down one by one.
After about 15 minutes, not even a single predatory grasshopper came close to us.
< was changed, but no more grasshoppers came to the site. It seems that we have exterminated them.
"Reiko, what about the ether tank?
All the free ether we took from the ravenous grasshoppers is stored in the ether tank.
"Yes, father. The ether tank is 80% full."
"Well... ......, every little bit counts."
"Well, how many of them were there, anyway?"
"Well, I'd say no less than ......1 ten thousand of them."
Jin then looked at the dawn sky,
"I wonder what happened to the rest of the world?
He wondered what was going on in other areas.
There were six flocks observed yesterday.
There are only five left.
* * * * * *
<>. Falcon 2, activate the <>.
Based on the images from the <>, the old man divided the 10 Falcon units into 5 groups of 2 units each, and gave instructions to each group.
The "Mere Old Man" assigned the odd-numbered and even-numbered Falcon units to operate the <> and <>, respectively, because it was easier to respond immediately if the units were operated separately.
<> to a wider area. Keep it there. Falcon 4, do not activate the <> yet. We're going to round them up.
Some of the grasshoppers seem to have spread over a fairly large area.
<> a little further east. ...... will do. Falcon 8, activate the ether eliminator.
With precise instructions, the swarms of ravenous grasshoppers drop to the ground one after another, motionless.
<> remains in place. Falcon 10,<> activated.
The main swarm of the predatory grasshoppers was destroyed in half an hour before dawn.
<
It is inevitable that one or two of them will escape.
The old man also remembered to give instructions to reduce the damage caused by such stragglers as much as possible.
<
It is important to leave data for future generations.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"......It seems that you did not cause any serious damage.
"......Good."
Jin and the others had moved from to and were listening to the old man's report in the cabin.
"It was really lucky that we happened to go to Hsaw to look for the ."
Goose was also relieved.
"Still, some forests and grasslands seem to have taken a beating.
From the air, some of the forests in the area where the ravenous grasshoppers passed through have been eaten away.
Some animals were reduced to bones, and even their bones had been gnawed away.
"I wish I had noticed and dealt with it a little earlier. ......"
Jin looks very frustrated. His face shows a hint of sadness.
As if to encourage Jin, Goose opened his mouth.
It is true. But it's a miracle that he survived. Jin is really amazing.
Goose said that in past legends, something like the had appeared, and that two or three villages had been destroyed at one time or another.
"Kuhu, we can't thank Jin enough, can we?"
Saki muttered these words half jokingly but sincerely, but Jin looked puzzled.
"I'm the one who ...... thanks ...... you."
"What?"
"Brother Jin?"
Erza and the others are surprised at Jin's unusually somber tone.
"In the world before, I was supposed to be dead. But Reiko called me out, and here I am.
Jin gently pats Reiko's head.
"And before I knew it, I had a place to stay, a friend I could trust and ......."
Jin looks alternately at Saki and Goose's faces.
"...... I've found someone I care about."
Gently Jin hugged Elsa's shoulder.
"I'm not a saint, and I can't be a hero or a friend of justice, but..."
He broke off and opened his mouth again.
I love this world. I want to protect this world, which has become my second home.
Jin ......
Jin ......
Jin ......
"I can't and won't say I'm going to make this world a better place because my hands are too small. But if I can make it so that the people I know don't have to cry, I'll do what I can."
Jin gave a small laugh.
"...... all of this is selfish of me, though."
But when Erza heard that, she hugged him tightly.
"......Erza?"
"...... Jin, don't go anywhere."
"...... what?"
"I'm afraid you're going to go away."
Jin gently hugged Erza back.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm not going anywhere without Erza.