The Longing for the Sky Now Protects the People
「Nee-san. I have deployed the Agathodaimon we created as reinforcements. I believe you will find it more to your liking than the Kasha.」
Eirene, fully aware of Astraea’s foul mood, cautiously broached the subject.
「What weird weapon have you developed this time?」
「A machine suited for mass production, designed with an appearance that won’t overly alarm the populace. It has also proven effective in Britain.」
「That last remark concerns me. Please don’t stir unnecessary anxiety.」
「Humanity’s first great achievement. The aspiration for the sky has now become the guardian of the people. The first wave appears to have arrived—let me show you.」
The projected image revealed several aircraft equipped with propellers. They had two stacked wings and a steel-tube frame wrapped in canvas, evoking an era of early aviation.
A squadron of these biplanes was seen engaging the approaching Kakodaimon. These biplanes were the mass-produced weapons designed to help the Kryptos shorten the disparity in numbers, the Agathodaimon.
「Longing for the sky… A fitting theme to be the basis of the Agathodaimon. These are biplanes, aren’t they?」
「Exactly!」
「Indeed, they are unlikely to cause alarm among the people, and it makes sense that humanity’s dreams of flight would become their protector. Electrically powered propellers, minimal use of metal—its suitability for mass production is undeniable. Very well.」
Astraea finally understood. These were aircraft that had once made their mark in Britain—humanity’s first airplanes. As such, they were suitable to become Agathodaimon.
Even in Astraea’s assessment, the canvas covering the aircraft was unlikely to be mere fabric. These biplanes had been reconstructed using the advanced technology of Planet Libya, incorporating cutting-edge innovations. They were not to be underestimated.
「Huh? Seriously?」
Eirene, who had fully expected Astraea to reprimand her, couldn’t hide her shock at the unexpected approval.
「Biplanes!」
Even Kinukawa, upon seeing them, instinctively stood up.
Biplanes certainly had their appeal. Their unique shape allowed for excellent lift and made possible a variety of maneuvers that other aircraft could not easily achieve.
「There’s something odd mixed in among them… Some of those machines are supersonic biplanes, based on the development of the Busemann biplane. This is beyond eccentric.」
Upon closer inspection, there were several Agathodaimon models that didn’t feature front-mounted propellers like conventional aircraft. Instead, they had multiple ducted-fan-type propellers positioned similarly to those found on passenger planes, and their wings were connected at both ends. These seemed to be commander units, designed for supersonic operations.
Back on 21st-century Earth, research had been conducted on supersonic biplanes to counteract sonic booms. This particular type of biplane featured wingtip connections, forming a diamond-shaped silhouette when viewed head-on.
Dr. Adolf Busemann had been a pioneer in understanding airflow at supersonic speeds. He first proposed this wing structure in 1936 and was also responsible for introducing the concept of swept wings, a revolutionary breakthrough in aviation.
His contributions didn’t stop there—he later worked on delta-wing research and even proposed the use of ceramic tiles for NASA’s Space Shuttle program. His legacy in aerodynamics was undeniable.
「The supersonic biplanes can adjust their wing connections, switching between standard and high-speed modes… And they’re unmanned? Those two actually managed to create something like this?」
「They are quite capable when they put their minds to it.」
Astraea replied.
For once, seeing a properly designed weapon gave the two of them a sense of relief.
「Right now, we need numbers. Against the drone-like Kakodaimon, these Agathodaimon units are practical. They’re essentially a cheaper, mass-production-focused version of the Boon, aren’t they?」
「Exactly! That’s right!」
Abel had already developed wooden fighter planes. The Boon, aircraft made primarily of water and wood, had played a crucial role during the Asia War. It had also contributed to the defense of the P336 Fortress Area. Astraea had no reason to dismiss its achievements.
「In fact, having an autonomous combat force against this number of enemies is invaluable. Well done, Eirene.」
「Whoa. Nee-san actually praised me!」
「And what exactly do you take me for?」
「I’m just happy—really happy!」
「By the way, I have one question for you. Are you familiar with ‘Gensou Gattai’?」
「Nope, never heard of it.」
Eirene had no recollection of the term. While she might feign ignorance in front of Astraea, she was incapable of outright lying to her.
「Understood. No problem.」
Feeling as though she had somehow been granted permission, Eirene quickly wrapped up the conversation.
「Well then, I’m off!」
With that, Eirene’s transmission ended.
Meanwhile, in the sky, countless biplanes were launching attacks against the Kakodaimons.
「The Kakodaimon are born from wreckage—traces of destruction. If the Kakodaimon arise from negative imagery, then biplanes, on the other hand, evoke nostalgia in humans. Or perhaps, upon seeing these fabric-covered planes, people won’t even recognize them as enemies.」
Astraea analyzed the situation. The Kakodaimon were malevolent spirits, manifestations of Typhon’s malice.
Conversely, the benevolent Agathodaimon should be born from positive imagery, from things unrelated to conventional weapons. Biplanes had remained in use well into the 21st century for agriculture and aerobatics—peaceful purposes rather than war.
「Compared to that, these are far more acceptable.」
Astraea’s gaze shifted. In the distance stood the Mado-Kasha—a colossal, flame-wielding cat mounted on a fiery Kasha.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
「Outis! Astraea-dono, do you copy? The main enemy are three colossal Teras, correct?」
Aural’s voice came through the comms.
「Three?」
Unit 5 was maneuvering across the battlefield with remarkable agility while mounted on Bastet, moving with the grace of a warrior cat.
「Yes. The one battling Garuda right now is Seth; its base is a former space cruiser. Another one is Fenrir, that is leading the Hati. And then, further in the rear… there’s Hydra.」
「Hydra? That’s from Greek mythology.」
「I believe it’s the one controlling the Kakodaimon. I’m transmitting the recorded image now.」
The image sent by Aural arrived.
What appeared on the screen was grotesque—a monstrous, fish-like abomination.
It was leading an army of countless deformed Kakodaimon, along with several silhouette-sized, amphibious-looking Teras.
「Cross-referencing the database… No matches. This entity does not exist in human mythology. It bears little resemblance to the Hydra from Greek myths either.」
Even Astraea’s analysis returned no results.
The Hydra, commanding an endless horde of Kakodaimon, was an entity that seemed to have crawled straight out of a nightmare.
「It’s the wrong Hydra, right?! This is—this is the Mother Hydra from the dark mythos, isn’t it?! The kind that shreds your SAN score?!」
Eri, oddly knowledgeable on the subject, screamed in alarm.
「Check the subculture database. It’s likely related to American literature.」
「Understood. …Size discrepancies aside, a matching entity has been found. Enemy Teras, designated as Mother Hydra. The smaller ones will be referred to as Deep Ones.」
「So we have no choice but to take down these three colossal Teras… How is Garuda doing?」
「The two are evenly matched. We are coordinating our Type-0s, but the enemy has Seth, several Silhouette-sized Teras, and hordes of Kakodaimon. The numbers are overwhelmingly against us. The only reason we’re holding out right now is because of the Agathodaimon sent as reinforcements.」
「Still, we’re at a disadvantage.」
They couldn’t afford to spread their forces too thin. At this point, they were forced into a defensive stance.
「Nyaa.」
「Bastet says we should take care of Fenrir. Ice should be countered with the sun.」
Bastet’s words were relayed through Master.
「Understood.」
Without hesitation, Kou made the decision. Their target would be Fenrir.
「Nyaa—」
「But first, it wants food.」
「Would metallic hydrogen work? Drink up as much as you need! Astraea, I’ll leave it to you.」
「Understood.」
Shortly afterward, an extraordinary sight unfolded—Unit 5, mounted on Bastet, charged forward at full speed, leading the charge. Following closely behind was an army of Cait Sith and Kasha, creating a surreal scene on the battlefield.
AN:
After a long time, the Agathodaimon, inspired by modern technology, has finally appeared.
This time, it’s a biplane. Even in the 21st century, biplanes are still produced in Russia and the United States. Notable examples from World War II include the Swordfish and Japan’s Type Zero Observation Plane.
The Swordfish was particularly significant—it was the first aircraft in history to successfully sink a German U-boat. The rocket-propelled spear used in that attack was invented by Nevil Shute, the same engineer responsible for the infamous Panjandrum.
A fascinating anecdote follows: After witnessing the effectiveness of the weapon, Canadian scientist and weapons developer Charles F. Goodeve, a colleague at the DMWD (Department of Miscellaneous Weapons Development), sent a message saying:
「This perfectly demonstrates the foresight you showed in the early stages of propulsion development. I’m especially pleased. Congratulations.」
Goodeve was also involved in the development of the Hedgehog anti-submarine weapon and played a key role in mass-producing the Oerlikon 20mm autocannon in Britain.
The history of aviation, from the Wright brothers to the present, is well known. Their dream of the skies, and its realization, has now been revived through the Agathodaimon.
This concept is based on supersonic biplanes and electric passenger aircraft. As of now, multiple manufacturers, including Airbus, are researching electric passenger aircraft using multiple ducted-fan propellers for propulsion. Some models have already achieved speeds of 400 km/h.
The Wright brothers’ Wright Flyer was also a propeller-driven aircraft.
Meanwhile, research on the Busemann biplane is ongoing in Japan, particularly at Tohoku University, where explanatory sites about it exist.
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