# 12 - Ghost Hunter
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/series/GY8VJW08Y/alderamin-on-the-sky)
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
**[00:04] Gu**
Your Highness!
**[00:06] C**
What's the meaning of this,
Lieutenant General Safida?
**[00:08] C**
You're the high commander
of the Northern Garrison.
**[00:11] C**
Why were you the first to flee?
**[00:14] C**
Many soldiers are still in
the process of retreating!
**[00:18] Gu**
The commanding officer's safety
is the highest priority.
**[00:23] C**
I see. You're right.
**[00:26] C**
We'll need you to be present at the
military tribunal when this is over.
**[00:35] C**
You mustn't die, Solork.
**[00:38] C**
There's something I have to tell you.
***SIGN*** Ghost Hunter
**[02:20] I**
Ideally,
**[02:21] I**
we would've been able to defend the
barricades without having to retreat.
**[02:26] I**
Even if the enemy attacked again
after they pulled back,
**[02:30] I**
we could have bought half or even a full day.
**[02:33] M**
Is that loss of a day going to prove fatal?
**[02:38] I**
Not particularly.
**[02:40] I**
However,
**[02:41] I**
from now on, it depends on the enemy.
**[02:43] I**
What will the Holy Aldera Army do,
now that they've actually fought us?
**[02:48] I**
Let's wait and see.
**[02:54] Gu**
Ryttsah!
**[02:55] Gu**
Such lovely weather!
**[02:57] Gi**
Jean, a message from our allies
in the mountains.
**[03:02] Jean**
Syoo!
**[03:04] Jean**
That's your brother, all right.
**[03:06] Jean**
He's selected exactly the information I want.
**[03:09] Jean**
And this is the most interesting bit:
**[03:11] Jean**
A member of the Igsem family,
famed for its swordplay, is in that army.
**[03:15] Gi**
Yes.
**[03:16] Gi**
Even my brother referred to
her skills as "extraordinary."
**[03:21] Gu**
She probably is truly extraordinary, then.
**[03:25] Gu**
It may be thanks to her
that we're stuck here.
**[03:38] N**
I'm sorry.
**[03:40] N**
It's my fault they died.
**[03:45] Gi**
No need to apologize.
**[03:47] N**
Ikta apologized to me first.
**[03:50] N**
I would have you test my faith as well.
**[03:55] N**
You may cut off both my arms.
**[04:00] N**
But please let me keep them
for the duration of this battle,
**[04:04] N**
so that I may wield a sword!
**[04:09] ---**
S...
**[04:10] Gi**
Stop it...
**[04:12] Gi**
Stop it, please!
**[04:13] Gi**
That's not right!
**[04:15] Gi**
If you do that, then...
**[04:18] Gi**
Then...
**[04:24] Gi**
how am I supposed to forgive myself?
**[04:28] Gi**
I didn't want to kill anyone!
**[04:32] Gi**
I didn't want to kill people
from my own country!
**[04:36] Gi**
I had no idea that simply becoming a soldier
**[04:39] Gi**
meant you had to fight so many battles
without any just cause...
**[04:47] Gu**
That's the responsibility of the person
who gave the orders,
**[04:50] Gu**
Sergeant Major Mitcalif.
**[04:53] Gu**
All the people you think you killed
**[04:55] Gu**
were actually killed by me.
**[04:58] Gu**
You did your job splendidly.
**[05:00] Gu**
There's no reason you should
be blamed for anything.
**[05:04] Gi**
But doesn't that mean
you'll be punished by God?
**[05:10] Gu**
Don't worry.
**[05:11] Gu**
I have a commanding officer, too.
**[05:13] Gu**
Once we're all dead, he can
actually do some work for once.
**[05:19] Gu**
So, change of subject...
**[05:22] Gu**
Have you two seen First Lieutenant Ikta?
**[05:28] Gu**
He should just sleep in his own tent.
**[05:31] Gu**
He insisted on sleeping on straw today.
**[05:38] Gi**
Something they gave their lives to protect...
**[05:42] Gi**
You don't see it as a platitude
or formality either, do you?
**[05:46] N**
Ikta, you boor.
**[05:48] N**
If you were going to sleep somewhere,
you could have slept in my bed.
**[05:52] Gi**
Wh-What did you say—
**[05:55] Gu**
Captain Sazaluf,
**[05:56] Gu**
the enemy's on the move!
**[05:59] I**
They're here, huh?
**[06:01] Gu**
Another unit of enemies has split off
for the bypass on the right.
**[06:05] Gu**
Approximately 500 mounted units.
**[06:08] Gu**
But half of the horses have two riders:
**[06:10] Gu**
a cavalryman and an infantryman behind him.
**[06:13] Y**
Clever.
**[06:15] Gu**
Yeah.
**[06:17] Gu**
It's a lot faster than just
having the infantry walk.
**[06:22] I**
Let's send a force to intercept.
**[06:24] I**
It's obvious they're trying to
make us split our forces,
**[06:27] I**
but we can only play along.
**[06:29] Gu**
So, the question is who we send.
**[06:33] I**
Torway and I will handle it.
**[06:35] Y**
It can be Torway and myself as well.
**[06:38] Gu**
I'll go.
**[06:41] Gu**
Well, my reason is pretty sad,
but hear me out.
**[06:45] Gu**
To be honest, this battle's been beyond
my ability to handle for a while now.
**[06:50] Gu**
If I'm left in charge here,
**[06:52] Gu**
I'm not sure I can make the right calls.
**[06:54] Gu**
And actually, First Lieutenant Ikta
and First Lieutenant Yatorishino,
**[06:58] Gu**
I think it's a bad idea for
you two to leave this place.
**[07:02] Gu**
If occupying a fort and fighting a textbook
war of attrition is all that's needed,
**[07:06] Gu**
even I can handle that.
**[07:08] Gu**
Makes me a failure as a commanding officer,
but I'm the best man for this.
**[07:13] Gu**
Please let me go.
**[07:16] I**
All right.
**[07:17] I**
I'll leave you to handle the enemies
on the bypass route,
**[07:21] I**
but please take Torway and his men.
**[07:25] Gu**
You sure?
**[07:26] Gu**
They're our air rifle unit.
**[07:28] I**
That's exactly why.
**[07:30] I**
You can do it, right, Torway?
**[07:32] T**
Yeah.
**[07:38] T**
It's going to be tough for a while,
**[07:41] T**
but if you follow Ikkun and
Yatori-san, it'll be fine.
**[07:45] M**
Yeah.
**[07:46] M**
Hang in there.
**[07:47] H**
Take care of the western fort, okay?
**[07:50] T**
Yeah.
**[07:56] M**
He's really changed.
**[07:59] M**
He's standing up straighter.
It's like he's grown up.
**[08:03] H**
Yes.
**[08:05] M**
He's a lot different than me.
**[08:07] H**
Yes?
**[08:09] H**
Matthew-san.
**[08:11] H**
Anything that's taboo in the Aldera religion
**[08:13] H**
would be taboo for the Aldera Army, right?
**[08:15] M**
Of course—
**[08:19] Gu**
Hey!
**[08:21] Gu**
It's a beautiful day for a trip
through the sky, right, Miara?
**[08:25] Gi**
If you've got time to talk,
**[08:27] Gi**
finish this up already!
**[08:30] Gu**
Syah!
**[08:33] Gu**
A force of over a hundred
is heading for the west.
**[08:37] Gi**
I've written that down!
**[08:38] Gi**
Now let's get back to the surface.
**[08:40] Gi**
As fast as we can!
**[08:41] Gi**
Right now!
**[08:43] Gu**
We can stay up here a for a bit, right?
**[08:45] Gu**
The general finally gave me the okay.
**[08:49] Gu**
As far as anyone else will be told,
I'm doing this on my own, though.
**[08:54] Gu**
L-Look, sir!
**[08:56] Gu**
That accursed thing!
**[08:58] Gu**
Oh, what is that?!
**[09:02] Gu**
Damn that Kioka kid!
**[09:04] Gu**
I'll arrest him immediately!
**[09:09] Gu**
These little acts aren't for me.
**[09:12] Gu**
You don't seem terribly happy
about this, either.
**[09:17] Gu**
It's the Kiokans who feel it's acceptable
to break the commandments
**[09:21] Gu**
to ensure victory.
**[09:23] Gu**
But it's also true that you can't win a fight
**[09:27] Gu**
if you're only trying to look good for God.
**[09:31] I**
I didn't expect them to send a blimp.
**[09:34] Y**
Perhaps the Alderan commander
is more flexible than we thought.
**[09:42] I**
Attention!
**[09:44] I**
That's just a recon vessel.
**[09:46] I**
Don't spend all your time
staring up into the sky at it.
**[09:50] I**
We need to look at reality,
and at the future.
**[09:53] I**
Listen, we need to buy
a minimum of seven days
**[09:58] I**
to support the retreat.
**[10:00] I**
As you can see,
**[10:02] I**
the fire we set in the forest
is starting to burn out.
**[10:06] I**
The enemy will come through
the burnt-out parts to attack.
**[10:10] I**
Which means it's clear
what we have to do, right?
**[10:14] N**
First, restore the wall of flame.
**[10:17] N**
Second, repel the enemies as they attack.
**[10:22] I**
That's right.
**[10:23] I**
From now on, we'll need to maintain
an adaptive, mobile defense.
**[10:28] I**
I'll be sending a number of you
to the appropriate places
**[10:31] I**
depending on where the fire's burnt out
and what the enemy does.
**[10:33] I**
We just keep that up for seven days.
**[10:36] I**
To pull this off, we just need one thing:
**[10:39] I**
a scientific stance from you.
**[10:44] I**
For the next seven days,
you must be lazy in the right way.
**[10:48] I**
You must work when it's time to work,
**[10:50] I**
and rest when it's time to rest.
**[10:52] I**
And seven days later,
when our mission is complete,
**[10:56] I**
we'll be heading south for our own retreat.
**[10:59] I**
I don't doubt that future at all.
**[11:04] I**
As of this moment,
**[11:07] I**
I am initiating the mobile defense operation!
***SIGN*** Bypass Route - Western Fortress
**[11:12] Gu**
Wow, that's quite the barrier.
**[11:16] Gu**
Which means... I guess we go to sleep.
**[11:20] Gi**
No, wait, you big dummy!
**[11:23] Gu**
It doesn't look like we could knock
that out at night or by surprise.
**[11:27] Gu**
We've got the plan Jean gave us, too.
**[11:30] Gi**
You giant Udo tree!
**[11:32] Gi**
How many times do I have to tell you
not to pick people up for no reason?
**[11:38] Gu**
So they're finally here, huh?
**[11:40] Gu**
Doesn't look like
they'll attack tonight, though.
**[11:44] Gu**
They'll attack during the day,
when they can use their air rifles.
**[11:48] Gu**
Meraize, right?
**[11:50] Gu**
What's going on with the air mortars?
**[11:52] Gu**
We brought them down from the mountains,
**[11:55] Gu**
but we only have six.
**[11:57] Gu**
Forgive us.
**[11:58] Gu**
Well done.
**[12:08] M**
Okay, pour on the oil!
**[12:16] M**
Yeah, at this rate it'll just
be another five minutes...
**[12:24] M**
Everyone, stop work and focus to our front!
**[12:29] M**
Fire!
**[12:31] I**
So, it's the third day of the mission,
**[12:33] I**
and our first enemy encounter?
**[12:36] I**
That about matches my expectations.
**[12:38] I**
Order Matthew's platoon
to take a four-hour rest.
**[12:41] I**
Yatori will take over for him.
**[12:43] Gu**
Roger.
**[12:47] Gu**
A report from the rear.
**[12:48] Gu**
The blimp has been seen
near the eastern forest path.
**[12:52] I**
The blimp again?
**[12:53] I**
And at the east?
**[12:55] Gu**
Yes.
**[12:56] Gu**
There are 300 cavalry below it,
**[12:59] Gu**
running across the same area again and again.
**[13:02] I**
The same area?
**[13:05] I**
I don't know why.
**[13:08] I**
Nana,
**[13:10] I**
is there possibly an eastern route
they could take to get around?
**[13:13] N**
No, I guarantee there isn't.
**[13:17] I**
What are they doing, then?
**[13:24] Gu**
Enemy unit withdrawing!
**[13:25] Gu**
They're pretty passive.
**[13:27] Gu**
With 800 men, they could afford
to be a little more bold.
**[13:33] Gu**
What are they waiting for?
**[13:35] T**
Captain,
**[13:38] T**
I want to deploy my platoon to the rear.
**[13:41] T**
May I have permission?
**[13:43] Gu**
The rear?
**[13:44] Gu**
Why?
**[13:48] Gu**
It can't be—
**[13:53] Gu**
The Imperial Army's back is wide open.
**[13:56] Gu**
When our rifle attack disorients them,
our allies will charge.
**[14:01] Gu**
Line up on the ridge and prepare to fire!
**[14:03] Gu**
Go!
**[14:12] Gu**
The red-haired Igsem woman.
**[14:17] Gu**
Two blades...
**[14:21] Gu**
This isn't the weapon I should be holding.
**[14:27] Gu**
We will open fire now.
**[14:32] Gu**
Aim, fire!
**[14:39] Gu**
An ambush?
**[14:42] Gu**
Keep firing!
**[14:44] Gu**
The enemy is bunched up!
**[14:46] Gu**
We can win!
**[14:50] (Flashback) I**
The third day after you
arrive at the fortress,
**[14:54] (Flashback) I**
or perhaps the fourth day,
**[14:56] (Flashback) I**
Kala Karm will attack the rear
while the sun is up.
**[14:59] (Flashback) M**
But we haven't seen Kala Karm...
**[15:02] (Flashback) I**
Not once, no.
**[15:04] (Flashback) I**
That's just because this area
makes it difficult to attack.
**[15:08] (Flashback) I**
But...
**[15:09] (Flashback) T**
That's right!
**[15:11] (Flashback) T**
The western fortress is different!
**[15:13] (Flashback) I**
This is the chance they've been waiting for.
**[15:16] (Flashback) I**
They'll attack from the rear
using their air rifles.
**[15:21] (Flashback) T**
How should my unit handle them?
**[15:25] (Flashback) I**
First, turn the chess board around.
**[15:27] (Flashback) I**
If you were the Kala Karm commander,
**[15:30] (Flashback) I**
how would you attack the fortress?
**[15:32] (Flashback) I**
By looking for a place around
150 meters from the fortress,
**[15:35] (Flashback) I**
where I could easily set up a firing line.
**[15:38] (Flashback) I**
Just keep asking yourself that question.
**[15:41] (Flashback) I**
If the enemy attacked like that,
how would you deal with them?
**[15:47] T**
I dealt with them like this, Ikkun!
**[15:53] Gu**
All forces, retreat!
**[15:55] I**
The enemy is retreating.
**[15:58] I**
I won't let a single one escape.
**[16:11] Gu**
You're kidding me.
**[16:12] Gu**
They took out Kala Karm?
**[16:14] Gu**
We don't have a choice. We'll attack.
**[16:17] Gu**
The enemy's split their forces
to set that ambush.
**[16:21] Gi**
I think they'll come right back, though!
**[16:23] Gu**
So we knock out the fortress right now!
**[16:27] Gu**
They're here!
**[16:28] Gu**
Good! Everyone, intercept!
**[16:31] Gu**
Are the air mortars ready?
**[16:33] Gu**
The battle at the fort continues,
**[16:36] Gu**
but they say there's no risk
of falling right now.
**[16:39] I**
Use the light signals to
tell them they did well.
**[16:43] I**
And that after three more days of defending,
**[16:45] I**
they are to retreat.
**[16:47] Gu**
Yes, sir.
**[16:51] I**
I see...
**[16:52] I**
Torway pulled it off, huh?
**[16:56] Y**
Yatori Platoon has finished replenishing
the fires in sector two on the west side.
**[17:01] I**
Hey, Yatori.
**[17:02] I**
Good work.
**[17:06] Y**
I figured that would be the case,
**[17:08] Y**
so I brought some for you.
**[17:12] Y**
I see.
**[17:13] Y**
So Torway did it.
**[17:15] I**
Yeah.
**[17:16] I**
Looks like he managed to
deal with the Ghosts.
**[17:19] Y**
Did he take out the commander?
**[17:21] I**
I don't know.
**[17:23] I**
His report said they were
almost entirely wiped out.
**[17:26] I**
But I assume you
**[17:29] I**
wanted revenge for Warrant Officer Deinkun?
**[17:33] Y**
That's right.
**[17:35] Y**
Either way, Torway wins.
**[17:37] Y**
This time.
**[17:40] Y**
No.
**[17:41] Y**
It may be past the time to
talk about winning and losing.
**[17:44] Y**
The power of the air rifles is overwhelming.
**[17:47] Y**
Has the age of the sword already passed?
**[17:53] I**
From Igsem of the Sword
to Remeon of the Gun.
**[17:57] I**
The star of the battlefield changes.
**[18:00] I**
I don't think that's a bad thing
for you, though.
**[18:06] I**
You bear too many burdens right now.
**[18:10] I**
If I told you everything I'd done
since I joined the military
**[18:15] I**
was to make the burden on you lighter,
**[18:19] I**
would you get mad?
**[18:21] I**
If I can have that as a goal,
**[18:23] I**
maybe I can forgive myself...
**[18:27] I**
For breaking my promise with my mom
and becoming a soldier.
**[18:34] Y**
I won't get mad.
**[18:36] Y**
But, even if that's true, I...
**[18:40] I**
There's still some time.
**[18:43] I**
Use it all to worry about the future.
**[18:47] I**
I'll help make it so your conclusion
**[18:50] I**
leads to a better future.
**[18:53] I**
Until the day comes when
you can hold your head high
**[18:56] ---**
and be proud of who you are,
**[18:58] I**
I will be by your side.
***SIGN*** Mobile Defense Operation - 6th Day
**[19:09] I**
Enemy reinforcements?
**[19:11] Gu**
They took a very long way around the east,
**[19:13] Gu**
and even our allies on the mountain
couldn't see them.
**[19:16] I**
The east side of the forest...
**[19:19] I**
That's where that blimp was flying.
**[19:21] Gu**
There are supposedly six wagons
pulling something big.
**[19:26] I**
Something big?
**[19:29] I**
Have our allies find out
what it is immediately!
**[19:32] Gu**
Yes, sir!
**[19:34] Gu**
Hey!
**[19:36] Gu**
You did well to make it here by sunset.
**[19:44] Gu**
Begin loading!
**[19:50] Gu**
Inject sun energy!
**[19:57] Gu**
All cannons are ready to fire!
**[20:00] Gu**
Fire!
**[20:09] M**
What was that noise?
**[20:11] M**
It was too loud to be mortars!
**[20:13] Y**
Ikta, are those...
**[20:28] Gu**
The sound of horses?
**[20:31] Gu**
But that way is...
**[20:38] I**
Explosive cannons!
**[20:39] M**
What's a explosive cannon?
**[20:42] I**
It's a new weapon the Kioka military has
**[20:44] I**
that detonates compressed sun energy
to propel a cannon shell.
**[20:48] I**
It should be something the Holy Army of
Aldera despises even more than blimps.
**[20:54] Y**
Those explosive cannons can destroy
the barricades from beyond the flames.
**[21:00] I**
Oh! So, that was it?!
**[21:03] I**
I finally get why the cavalry kept running
in the same spot under the blimp!
**[21:08] I**
They were training!
**[21:12] I**
They used the blimp to record
the paths through the forest,
**[21:16] I**
and built an obstacle course to mimic it.
**[21:19] I**
Then they memorized the way to
break through the wall of flames!
**[21:24] I**
They got us!
**[21:26] Gi**
So the explosive cannons
that were brought to Aldera,
**[21:28] Gi**
and never saw any use,
are now used like this...
**[21:32] Gi**
But the general is going to be
very upset with you again.
**[21:37] Gu**
Exkyaazy!
**[21:38] Gu**
I'll think of an excuse later.
**[21:41] Gu**
Come, it's time to make the Empire pay
for keeping us sitting here.
**[21:47] Gu**
All forces, to the west!
**[21:51] Gu**
The Imperial Army's desperate attempt
to maintain the firewall
**[21:56] Gu**
was broken by the
Unsleeping, Shining Officer.
**[21:59] Gu**
There were less than two days left
**[22:01] Gu**
until the rear guard could retreat.
***SIGN*** Next time: "In a Twilight Empire."
***SIGN*** In a Twilight Empire