Introduction (Part 1): The Man Who Fell From Heaven

In the sky, over Wiltian territory in the former Republic of Pelfe, on the continent of Europea...

“We can’t gain altitude! Engine No. 3 has stopped! Output has fallen below 30 percent!”

“Do something! Find someplace for a crash landing!”

Inside an airborne transport, fierce cries rang out. The words exchanged between the captain and co-pilot in the cockpit were practically screams.

They were not inexperienced pilots. They were trained aviators with considerable skill and many flight hours between them. These pilots wouldn’t raise their voices unless the situation was desperate.

There was a high possibility in the air—compared to on land or sea—that an accident would lead to immediate death, so the slightest difficulty could throw the other crew members into confusion. They knew that. Yet they didn’t hide their own fear, which showed how dire the situation was.

“This isn’t good.” Another man sighed as he spoke. It wasn’t because he didn’t understand the situation. Comprehending it all, he continued softly. “That’s enough, men. Out you go.”

“Huh?” The crew didn’t understand and responded with surprise. “Please, stay seated! We’ll handle this somehow!”

“No, that isn’t necessary.” The man appeared calm in the face of the captain’s shouts. He wasn’t just calm. He was expressionless, and spoke with no emotion. “Use the parachutes to bail out. At this height... Well, you’ll break a few bones, but you won’t die.”

“Um...” The aircraft was so low they could clearly see the trees below. “That’s not the point!”

“Whatever. Just go.” The aircraft was violently shaking and rumbling, but even now the man spoke gently, shoving parachutes at the pilots and physically picking them up.

“No, wait!”

“I’ll take care of the aircraft. I’ll take her down safely where it won’t cause damage.”

Then he opened a sliding hatch and tossed the resistant pilots out, as if he were a father seeing his children off on a holiday, saying, “The weather’s nice, so go play out front!”

“—!!!” The pilots were shouting something, but their forms rapidly grew smaller as they fell.

Confirming that their chutes had opened and they were slowly drifting down, the man muttered, “That’ll do.”

“Now what? Where am I?” He threw switches to silence the emergency alarms. Then, while depressing the control stick, he pulled out a map. “Hmm... We were almost to Berun. But apparently it’s still dangerous around Pelfe. Let’s see... Oh... Yes, that’s perfect.” He stabbed his finger at a spot on the map marked “Organbaelz.”

And with that, the curtain rose on another incident.