I Got a Monster Spaceship from the Tutorial Tower - Chapter 9

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 9
Episode 9
Just as Yeon-woo was about to enter the fifth floor of the Tutorial Tower, a Raid Portal tore open.
Yeon-woo went straight into the Space Battleship.
“Entering personal hangar.”
“Captain, welcome back——.”
“Red alert! Red alert!”
“??”
Urelka, who had been about to greet Yeon-woo with her usual courtesy, grew serious at his unusual tone.
“Gurrrgh…….”
She woke Makross from his sleep.
“Captain, it’s urgent.”
Gudru, who’d been elsewhere, sprinted toward the bridge in a single bound.
Once Yeon-woo confirmed all his crew had assembled, he briefed them immediately.
“A Raid Portal—a Raid Portal has opened.”
“……This is quite serious, sir.”
“Eek!”
“Raid Portal. Don’t know what it is. Is it food?”
Urelka and Makross responded gravely.
Meanwhile, Gudru scratched his chin with one thick finger, glancing around uncertainly.
Urelka spoke up.
“But Captain, weren’t you trying to keep your identity hidden? Participating in a Raid Portal would surely make that difficult.”
“That’s true, but——”
Yeon-woo made a groaning sound before continuing.
“It opened right next to my neighborhood.”
“?!!?!”
“What are you waiting for, Captain? We should launch immediately!”
Now grasping the true gravity of the situation, Urelka and Makross shot to their feet.
Even Makross, who claimed to suffer from flight anxiety, seemed to have forgotten that entirely—in fact, he was making more of a fuss than anyone.
“Think it’ll work, though?”
Yeon-woo himself wanted to check the situation once more.
The Space Battleship was, of course, exempt from Level Restrictions.
But if he participated in the Raid Portal now, his Korean identity would be virtually confirmed.
As Urelka had pointed out, this could significantly undermine his plan to maintain secrecy for now.
“Is there any way around it?”
Urelka answered without hesitation.
“If we completely cut off communications as before, and return to the hangar immediately after clearing the raid, there shouldn’t be any major problems. More importantly, Captain, we must protect your residence.”
“No, not my residence exactly.”
Yeon-woo scratched his cheek, thinking of his modest one-room apartment.
Still, Urelka’s reasoning wasn’t entirely off.
It would be a bit bothersome, certainly, but what of it if the Space Battleship was in Korea?
Would the authorities question all fifty million citizens one by one to find out who the pilot was?
As long as he cut off communications properly, Yeon-woo wouldn’t come under suspicion immediately.
Having made his decision, Yeon-woo moved straight to the captain’s chair and drew out the Master Ball.
Click.
Whooom!
At the same moment, Makross and Gudru positioned themselves solidly at Yeon-woo’s sides.
“……Why are you two here?”
“Ah, I thought this was the sort of moment when I should stand solemnly beside the captain.”
“Hapi told me to.”
“It’s cramped. Go over there where there’s more room.”
“Ugh……. You’re being harsh, sir.”
“Gudru also finds it cramped.”
If it were just Makross, it might be different.
But a troll’s frame was barely manageable even in the spacious bridge.
Besides, once combat began, they’d need to sortie anyway. What was the point?
Pilots in the nation where a Raid Portal opened could launch directly to that region if conditions permitted.
This was why every country was desperately trying to secure high-ranking pilots.
With the bridge tidied up, Yeon-woo spoke in a solemn tone.
“Space Battleship, sortie.”
“Will you participate in the Raid Portal in Incheon, Republic of Korea?”
What’s there to say?
* * *
The Fierce Tiger Clan — one of the Republic of Korea’s finest organizations.
Originally, it had competed for top ranking among the Four Great Clans.
But after recruiting Shin Ha-yoon and Hades, public opinion had clearly swung in the Fierce Tiger Clan’s favor.
Yet the current atmosphere within the clan was nothing short of urgent.
Bang!
“Are we ready?”
Clan Leader Jin Yong, who normally avoided the command center to manage his personal schedule, kicked open the door and strode in.
One of the staff answered in a trembling voice.
“Pilot Shin Ha-yoon and four others. Deployment preparation complete. Communications line is now open.”
As the staff member said, the main display in the command center showed five pilots.
— Um, should we lift off now?
— What about the enemy fighters? Do we know what we’re facing? How many are there?
Each of them was talented enough to merit membership in the Fierce Tiger Clan, pilots with promising futures.
Yet the unexpected Raid Portal and their lack of experience had drained the color from their faces.
Jin Yong himself would not have deployed them without a strong request from the Control Authority.
But among them, there was one.
A single pilot who seemed distinctly composed.
— Navigation systems normal. Weapons systems normal. Maneuvering controls normal. Ready for deployment.
Her voice was a notably deep alto for a woman.
Pale skin, clear and luminous features.
Her name was Shin Ha-yoon, her long black hair tied back severely.
She was the owner of Hades — the Republic of Korea’s first S+ Rank fighter.
‘She really is remarkable.’
Even Jin Yong, who had been an C Rank pilot active in the early days of the Tutorial Tower, found himself in awe each time he saw Ha-yoon like this.
No matter how composed someone is, their first time in a Raid Portal should make them nervous.
Especially since she was still only at Level 10 — a beginner by any measure.
Yet in Ha-yoon, there was not the slightest hint of anxiety.
She was like a machine in combat, yet her composure in ordinary moments sometimes felt unsettling.
Behind that cold exterior lay a girl who was careful and clumsy in her dealings with others.
She possessed exceptional talent sufficient to pilot an S+ Rank aircraft, and Jin Yong couldn’t help but worry whether it was right to thrust such a person into the Tutorial Tower.
Thanks to Ha-yoon’s calm voice, the chaotic atmosphere in the command center naturally settled.
Only then did Jin Yong realize he had been flustered himself, and he chuckled softly as he called to her.
“Pilot Shin Ha-yoon, how are you feeling?”
Ha-yoon’s response came at once.
— Nothing unusual.
That was right.
No matter how much the Space Battleship had disrupted the world recently,
so long as its identity remained unknown, the unwavering trust of the Republic of Korea belonged to Shin Ha-yoon alone.
* * *
Click. Click.
Ha-yoon was conducting a final check of the fighter through the interface while waiting for the clan to grant takeoff clearance.
Most pilots neglected or skipped portions of the complex inspection procedure, whether from forgetfulness or laziness.
But Ha-yoon had always gone through every step with meticulous care.
‘A Raid Portal…….’
She had boarded Hades and opened communications with the clan the moment the alert sounded.
The enemy fighters hadn’t appeared in force yet.
Once their identity was confirmed, the hastily summoned pilots would launch in sequence.
Ha-yoon had only fought unmanned drones so far, but she felt no fear.
— Just follow the simulation training protocol. You’ve already engaged Orc-class fighters. Stay calm.
The clan leader’s voice came through the communication channel.
As a Level 10 Raid Portal, the enemy monsters would be limited to predictable types.
What mattered now was the mindset of the pilots who would face them.
‘A Rank…….’
The unusually high rating of this Raid Portal nagged at her attention.
‘Focus on what I need to do.’
Yet Ha-yoon had confidence in her own skill and in Hades’ capabilities.
Then, the order came down from the clan command center.
— Enemy aircraft confirmed! Orcs, goblins, and slimes. The Control Authority has instructed our clan to focus on engagement with the orcs, centered around Hades. All units, launch operations commence!
— Ugh!
— Why now……!
Groans of distress echoed from the pilots forming formation with Ha-yoon.
「Will you participate in the Raid Portal in Incheon, Republic of Korea?」
‘Yes.’
The engine roared to life.
Ha-yoon and Hades pushed the engine output to its limit.
* * *
When a Raid Portal emerges, the Control Authority maintains comprehensive communication with the command centers of all clans.
If each clan operates independently, military resources cannot be deployed effectively.
In the early days, there were absurd incidents where allied aircraft collided mid-air and crashed.
In any case, the spearhead of this operation was undoubtedly Shin Ha-yoon’s Hades.
Accordingly, the Fierce Tiger Clan’s squadron was deployed to engage the formidable orcs directly.
The moment launch orders were issued, the massive display lit up with blue and red symbols representing the airborne pilots and confirmed enemy aircraft positions.
And roughly ten minutes in.
Tae-geun’s expression grew troubled.
‘I saw it coming, but…….’
A total of thirty-two combat aircraft had been deployed.
They seemed to be holding their own, but barely.
‘Experience. That’s the problem.’
The pilots had been gripped by fear from the start.
For sub-Level 10 pilots who had only ever faced unmanned drones, combat against actual monsters was unprecedented.
They weren’t accustomed to formation flying either.
The infamy of the Level 10 Restriction Raid was gradually becoming apparent.
Already five aircraft had been incapacitated by direct hits or pilots had retreated in panic.
The condition of the remaining twenty-seven aircraft wasn’t good either.
The confirmed enemy count stood at fifty aircraft.
A battle that had begun at a numerical disadvantage was proving far more arduous than anticipated.
“What of civilian evacuation?”
“Fortunately, losses remain minimal and progress is good. We’re at fifty percent.”
“Hmm…….”
That, at least, was a relief.
Collateral ground damage inevitable in aerial combat had so far remained minimal.
In such circumstances, there were certain options available according to protocol.
The operations coordinator beside him spoke with evident discomfort.
“Director, in a situation like this, wouldn’t it be wise to conserve our promising assets?”
The words sounded reasonable.
Conserve the promising assets.
In plainer terms, it meant ordering a full retreat of aircraft certain to be wasted in futile combat.
And then what of the remaining enemy?
Once there were no more pilots deemed capable of engaging, the monsters would descend to the ground.
The ground would be devastated, but from that point onward the Level Restriction would no longer apply, and ground forces could be deployed.
It was a viable approach—the enemy this time being mere orcs and goblins, conventional weapons against which still proved effective.
“Civilian evacuation rate is still only fifty percent.”
“But…….”
It was a difficult choice.
No pilot deaths had occurred yet, but the battlefield’s current state made it inevitable that they would.
‘No, not just pilot deaths—if aircraft suffer Complete Destruction and they accumulate…….’
Complete Destruction was a ruling that meant irreparable damage by current technology standards.
For a pilot, it amounted to a death sentence.
Tae-geun’s gaze fixed on one blue symbol among the others on the tactical map.
Merely one marker among the rest on the situation board, yet her performance was operating on an entirely different level.
[Hades, 5 kills]
Out of the seven aircraft shot down on their side, Ha-yoon alone had claimed five—and all five were hers.
* * *
Rat-a-tat-tat!
The orc aircraft unleashed its cannons.
Among the lower-tier monsters, it boasted the thickest armor plating and the most devastating firepower—a formidable foe.
So far only one had been identified, and Ha-yoon was the one engaging it.
‘……Just like the simulation.’
But Shin Ha-yoon remained unfazed.
The jet-black fuselage of the Hades spat black spheres that resembled lightning from four gun barrels in rapid succession.
Unlike other aircraft, the Hades didn’t rely on common lasers or plasma.
Antimatter Barrage.
A privilege that ignored a considerable portion of the enemy’s armor or barrier defense and drove fixed damage deep.
Beyond that, there was one more skill she could activate at truly critical moments.
‘Still have room to spare.’
Shin Ha-yoon evaded the Orc fighter’s powerful spear-throw attack with ease, thinking to herself.
One hit from that thing, and she’d be dragged behind the enemy craft until complete destruction.
Rat-a-tat-tat! Boom!
Simultaneously, she angled the Hades vertically and unleashed a barrage at the hostile aircraft crossing above, sending it plummeting.
Exquisite maneuvering and flawless firing control.
The problem was unmistakable even to Shin Ha-yoon: the overall situation was overwhelmingly unfavorable.
— Ugh, argh! Goblin, left flank!
— The White Horse Clan bastards are drawing enemy fighters right toward us!
When one squadron starts to break, the pressure cascades onto the others.
And suffering an unexpected attack from behind is the pilot’s worst nightmare.
Already one aircraft from Shin Ha-yoon’s squadron had retreated, and the numerical disadvantage only grew steeper.
The pilots were clamouring, demanding to know why the command center wouldn’t order a withdrawal.
Shin Ha-yoon conserved her words to combat reports alone, taking stock of the situation.
‘……Is it even possible?’
Could she, alone, shoot down all fifty enemy fighters attacking over Incheon’s airspace?
Without any support from her allies?
It would be possible.
If she unlocked the reserved skill and pushed her concentration to the absolute limit, it would be razor-thin.
But what about after?
The Raid Portal inevitably spawns a boss—what they call a Flagship-Class Monster.
Even as a fighter variant of the same species, its frame was overwhelmingly larger, and its specs were exceptional.
‘I couldn’t handle that…….’
The outlook was grim.
Even if not an S+ Rank aircraft, if just two or three more pilots of skill comparable to hers joined the fight, victory could certainly be snatched back.
Crunch…….
As Shin Ha-yoon piloted the fighter in the chaos, her hands clenched with force.
It infuriated her.
Why should humanity have to retreat against monsters they could exterminate?
They had to prevent those monsters from landing.
Because the monsters the Control Authority had permitted to land under the pretense of manual necessity—
‘Mom, Dad…….’
Someone would lose precious family.
Even statistically minimized casualties were a total catastrophe for some victims—the loss of their entire world.
That was when it happened.
An urgent transmission crackled from the command center.
— Two unidentified fighters entering the operational zone!
— More, more enemy aircraft?
— What? Who is it?
The pilots’ cries overlapped.
The response from the command center was unexpected even to Shin Ha-yoon.
— Fighters…… Thunder Hound and Fullmail! Thunder Hound and Fullmail! Identified as allied aircraft!
“Thunder Hound?”
The word escaped Shin Ha-yoon’s lips before she could stop it.
Fullmail was unfamiliar, but Thunder Hound——
Could it be?
* * *
— Cock-a-doodle-dooooo!!!
“Makross, keep it down.”
— Cock-a-cock-cock……!!!
It did quiet down somewhat.
Was the enhanced control really making a difference?
The real problem now was that the video feed had kicked in, and she could actually see Makross’s chaos unfolding on screen.
His eyes had rolled halfway back, and he worked the interface with the fervor of a man possessed.
He’d launched the Space Battleship and immediately scrambled Makross and Gudru into combat.
“…Urelka, things aren’t looking good, are they?”
“No, Captain. The pilots are definitely being pushed back.”
Even to Yeon-woo’s eye, defeat crept closer by the second.
Gudru had spoken.
— Black fighter jet, fights well. Gudru protect that fighter jet.
‘Is he talking about the Hades? That’s incredible.’
The machine Yeon-woo had only ever glimpsed in fantasy sequences from Earth’s heroes.
And Shin Ha-yoon was piloting it.
Gudru’s actual skill remained to be seen, but his judgment was sound.
As for Makross, he’d handle himself fine.
“Pulling up the status report now.”
“Right. Go ahead.”
The broad forward viewport of the bridge filled with detailed information on the unfolding Raid Portal.
The Thunder Hound and Fullmail were rapidly advancing into the portal.
And the Space Battleship? Where was it?
‘It does feel like I’m drawing a lot of aggro like this… but better than hovering directly over the city, I suppose?’
Yeon-woo hung suspended now.
Beyond the monster fighter, the pilot fighter, the control range of the Raid Portal—everything.
High in the distant sky.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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