"What is this?"

Louise widened her eyes in surprise as she stared at the giant steel construct before her. Since summoning SABER, the question she had asked most was "What is this." After all, these things were unheard of to her before.

"This is a specially modified VF-19 fighter."

With a proud look at the fighter beside her, Red Ponytail nodded in satisfaction. This was a gift Fang Zheng received from the Mech World, and considering Fang Zheng’s position in the Mech World as the Supreme Commander, it was customary for the highest commander to have a custom mecha, something like a red horned triple speed...

Similarly, this VF-19 has abandoned the original VF-1 design, adopting an advanced forward-swept wing structure, coupled with a latest thermal nuclear burst turbojet engine. It could not only perform FOLD maneuvers independently but also possessed tactical deterrent power against warships and fortresses.

Moreover, the VF-19 is equipped with high-mobility miniature missiles and wing laser beams. As a symbol of Fang Zheng, the entire machine is painted red, and features a golden flying dragon — originating from Fang Zheng’s previous summoning of a Divine Dragon (actually a Zerg-modified Flying Serpent) in Britannia’s battle in District 11. Hence, this modified VF-19 is also known as the "Red Dragon."

Naturally, Fang Zheng received this fighter but never used it, as he didn’t need to be on the battlefield as a commander. If Fang Zheng were required on the battlefield, the VF fighter wouldn’t resolve the issue, so Fang Zheng had kept this fighter as a trophy after clearing the Mech World.

Unexpectedly, it did have a day to be used after all.

To be honest, Red Ponytail could rule this world with this fighter alone.

After all, this low-magic world is quite weak.

"Alright, prepare yourselves, let’s set off,"

Red Ponytail snapped her fingers, quickly seeing the cockpit open automatically, revealing the seats inside. Looking at the narrow cockpit, Louise hesitated a bit.

"We need to sit in that? It’s not dangerous, right?"

"Of course not; it’s very safe inside. But it’s a double-seat machine, so it can only accommodate the two of us... Well, actually, the space isn’t small either."

Though the cockpit was for two, both Red Ponytail and Louise were petite, so they wouldn’t feel crowded at all. Hearing Red Ponytail’s words, Louise nodded and began to climb up the cockpit from the side ladder as directed by Red Ponytail.

Just then, a voice suddenly came.

"Oh my, isn’t this Louise? My Louise, long time no see!!"

My Louise?

Upon hearing this, Red Ponytail curiously turned her head, seeing a man riding a Griffin descend from the sky, landing not far from them. He dismounted with a big laugh, raised his arm, and walked toward Louise.

Upon recognizing the man, Louise’s eyes lit up.

"Baron Waludo!"

Who’s this pretty boy?

Red Ponytail curiously sized up the man before her, as he was the first to make Louise so happy. Furthermore, these two people were hugging each other?

"You’re still as light as a feather, my dear Louise."

"...This is quite embarrassing."

Faced with Waludo’s words, Louise blushed deeply, lowering her head in a shy manner. Waludo laughed heartily and released Louise, then looked at Red Ponytail.

"And this is..."

"This is SABER, my Familiar Spirit."

"I see... Never expected it to be a person."

Surprised by Louise’s words, Waludo examined Red Ponytail, while Red Ponytail simply waved it off as a greeting. Waludo elegantly bowed his head to Red Ponytail in return.

"Hello, I am Baron Waludo, captain of the Griffin Team, part of Her Majesty’s Magic Guard Team."

"Hello, I am Red Ponytail."

Casually responding, Red Ponytail curiously looked towards Louise.

"By the way, what is your relationship?"

"Louise is my betrothed."

In response to Red Ponytail’s inquiry, Waludo calmly replied.

"Oh... I see."

Upon hearing this, Red Ponytail nodded. Despite Louise appearing young, she’s close to adulthood, having a fiancé is quite normal. As for the age gap... that’s certainly not a problem.

"So, why are you here...?" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"I am ordered by Her Royal Highness to accompany the two of you to Albion."

Waludo’s smile remained unchanged.

"After all, the journey to Albion is long, and you’re both girls, encountering dangers is inevitable on the road, so I’m responsible for ensuring your safety."

Oh, so it’s the Princess sending him to keep tabs on us.

Red Ponytail maintained a cheerful face while internally cursing, knowing that woman wasn’t any good, and indeed, that was the case.

"Actually, it’s not that trouble; Albion isn’t far. Honestly, we intended to return on the same day, still making it back for dinner."

"Oh, you’re just kidding, miss."

Waludo apparently didn’t take Red Ponytail’s words seriously, believing she was only joking.

"Albion isn’t close by, and it’s still... hehe, anyway, let’s get going now."

While speaking, Waludo took Louise’s hand and approached the Griffin, while Red Ponytail watched coldly from the side.

Ugh, stealing a woman right in front of me? Has he got a death wish or something?

But Red Ponytail didn’t take any action, just stood there, smiling and watching them. Then, Waludo went to his Griffin with Louise and climbed onto it, but at that moment, Louise suddenly remembered something and looked at Waludo.

"Master Waludo, my familiar is still over there."

"Don’t worry, my lovely Louise, I’ve already prepared a carriage for her, and this Griffin can only carry two people."

"Oh, is that so...?"

Upon hearing this, Louise nodded. Then Waludo gave Red Ponytail a slight smile and handsomely snapped the reins.

"......"

The Griffin remained lying on the ground, motionless.

"Depart!"

Waludo whipped the Griffin again, but it still lay there, just turning its head to glance silently at him. And then, the Griffin raised its rear, releasing a "poot poot" sound, sending a foul odor wafting on the breeze.

The Griffin quietly lay down again.

"......"

Suddenly, the air became awkward.

"Looks like your Griffin might have overeaten and gotten a stomach ache."

At this point, Red Ponytail cheerfully moved closer, while Waludo’s expression grew a bit stiff, as he didn’t know what was happening.

"Forget it, animals are unreliable; you can rely on me instead. Let’s go, Louise, I’ll show you the power of interstellar civilization."

"Ah, um..."

Louise was also pulled by Red Ponytail off the Griffin, then dumbfoundedly walked towards the fighter jet, but as she climbed the ladder to the cockpit, she suddenly came back to her senses.

"Wait, what about Master Waludo?"

"Well, there’s no way around it. This is a two-seater, and no more than two people can fit."

Red Ponytail gave Waludo a cheeky smile and returned his words.

"And didn’t Mr. Waludo prepare a carriage?"

"Please don’t joke, Miss, my duty is to protect Louise, so I can’t be separated from her. At all costs, I must ensure Louise’s safety."

Hehe, you almost sounded convincing; I almost believed you.

Upon hearing this, Red Ponytail chuckled, and then she had an idea.

"If you don’t mind, you can stay in the missile compartment; there’s just enough room. But I must warn you, it’s not comfortable inside, and it’s very cold... and maybe noisy too, who’s to say? If you can’t handle it, the one to suffer is you."

"Please don’t worry, I’m part of the Royal Magic Guard Team; such difficulties won’t trouble me."

"Alright then."

Anyway, I’ve already warned you.

"SABER, is everything alright?"

Once Red Ponytail got into the cockpit, Louise quickly asked, to which Red Ponytail shrugged.

"I put him in the missile compartment. I mentioned it’s very cold and noisy over there, but he said he’s part of the Magic Guard Team, and such small problems don’t bother him."

"Of course."

Upon hearing this, Louise smiled.

"Master Waludo is very capable."

"Well, let’s hope he’s not just talk. Ready, please fasten your seatbelt, stow away the tray table, and adjust the seatback, because we’re about to set off!"

While speaking, Red Ponytail activated the system, quickly brightening the previously pitch-black cockpit, instantly revealing the scenery outside. Seeing this, Louise couldn’t help but let out an "Ahhhh" in admiration. Then, Red Ponytail pulled the control lever, and the fighter jet began to slowly ascend.

"It’s flying?!"

Looking at the view outside, Louise widened her eyes in surprise.

This massive chunk of metal managed to take off so effortlessly? There’s no need for chanting spells, nor any magical fluctuations? How does this thing fly? Surely it’s not magic?

"Okay, let me look at the map; Albion is... this way, so then..."

After glancing at the map and confirming the position, Red Ponytail suddenly pushed the control lever.

"Let’s go, Mantis Shrimp!"

"——————!!"

In the next moment, accompanied by the roar of sonic booms, the fighter jet shot forward, soaring into the midst of the sky and clouds.