Chapter 132

Nisia carefully adjusts my outfit.

Next to her, Seoli, lying on the bed with her hands on her chin, looks up at me.

“All done, Edu.”

“Thanks as always, Nisia.”

“Little Mom! You look pretty!”

“Yes, thank you.”

I reach out and pat Seoli’s head.

At that, a big smile blooms on Seoli’s face, which was already grinning brightly.

“So, shall we go?”

“Yes, Bungbungi!”

[Beeep- / (๑•‿•๑)]

Bungbungi reacts instantly to my call.

Once Hands moves my body onto Bungbungi, Seoli jumps into my arms as if she had been waiting.

Hug.

With a light impact, Seoli’s warm body temperature envelops me.

“Hehe, moms are warm!”

As if performing a trick, I stroke Seoli, who curls up on my lap and rubs her head against me.

In the meantime, Nisia finishes changing clothes.

“Ready?”

“Yes.”

“Then… Bungbungi! Let’s go to the Chancellor’s office.”

[Beeep. /⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝]

We leave the dormitory and head toward the academy.

As we stroll leisurely, classmates wave at us from a distance.

“Oh? It’s Edu.”

“Seoli is with you, too. Hello~”

“Hello!”

Seoli waves her hand at the two of them.

Our classmates come closer and pet Seoli’s head.

“But Edu, where are you going at this hour?”

“The Chancellor called me, so I’m heading to the academy for a bit.”

“That must be tough. If you need any help, just call us.”

“Right!”

“Yes, thank you both.”

The friends leave while waving their hands again.

As I wave my hand with Seoli, Nisia pokes me playfully.

“Edu, you’re quite popular, huh?”

“Um, I suppose so.”

Although there were a few people who recognized me from the broadcasts before, after winning the friendly match, more people have shown kindness.

‘Indeed, the influence of the friendly match is substantial.’

In a way, it feels similar to seeing sports stars on Earth.

The problem is that my personality isn’t one to enjoy being the center of attention, often labeled as attention-seeking, so this situation doesn’t feel particularly pleasant.

If it felt more like being recognized as a war hero, it might be okay, but there’s a strange warmth from the gazes of those looking at me.

In short, it feels like a vibe of “Oh my, our little baby.”

‘Hmm, I wonder why.’

However, it wasn’t all bad.

The most significant positive change was how people now looked at Seoli.

Whereas they used to think, “Why is that person with a child?” now they seem to accept it as simply a mother and daughter vibe.

Of course, a big part of this would be that Seoli’s hair has grown longer, making her look more like me, combined with her amiability.

“Little Mom?”

“Yes? What’s wrong, Seoli?”

“Mom, you’re frowning! Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, just thinking about something for a moment.”

Reuniting with the Beast Knight and Seoli’s sudden growth.

Both events were beyond my expectations, but fortunately, Seoli’s demeanor remained unchanged.

Moreover, according to Mrs. Banetta, Seoli’s health has improved compared to before.

As I continue to stroke Seoli’s head while thinking about this, the worried expression on her face slowly melts away.

“Hehe.”

Seoli giggles happily.

As we spend a delightful time, before long, Bungbungi comes to a halt in front of the Chancellor’s office.

The door bursts open.

“Come on in.”

“Excuse me.”

“하… 실례하게쓰미다!”

“Um.”

Chancellor Ryeoju smiles at Seoli mimicking my words.

The Chancellor had been surprised when he first heard that Seoli had grown, but now seems quite accustomed to her changed appearance.

“Now then, Seol. Could you step aside for a moment?”

“Yes!”

Seoli jumps down from my arms.

As Seoli vacates her spot, I use Hands to move and sit on the sofa in the Chancellor’s office.

“So, Seoli, how about you play with Bungbungi while we talk for a moment?”

Seoli vigorously shakes her head in agreement.

“Yes! Let’s go, Bungbungi!”

[Beeep. /(˶•▿•˶)]

With a bounce.

Seoli and Bungbungi head out together from the Chancellor’s office.

Once they leave, the door to the office closes, leaving just the three of us behind.

“It seems Seoli is doing well.”

“Yes, she’s so lively that it’s almost overwhelming.”

“Well, that makes sense.”

The Chancellor smiles faintly.

Clearing his throat, he gazes at me seriously.

“Edu, the reason I called you today is that the major tasks are mostly completed.”

“Ah… already?”

It hasn’t been long since the day of the revolution, and to hear that the tasks are finished already?

Surprised by this unexpected response, the Chancellor nods.

“Yes. As I mentioned before, this revolution was more about preparing for the significant matters ahead by ensuring internal stability.”

Hearing that, I recall what the Chancellor had said when we were alone the day before.

“Not everything has been resolved, but I’ve extinguished the urgent fires. So now we need to think about the future, don’t you think?”

“I suppose that’s correct, but can we decide on such an important matter just among ourselves?”

While Simonia is still a relatively new comrade, I felt that Freya should be present, which was the basis of my question.

“Well, it’s a bit tricky but the others have tasks to attend to. Even if the revolution was successful, we can’t just vacate the forward base indefinitely, can we?”

“Ah, that’s true.”

Freya needs to operate the Ground Recovery Unit, and Simonia has to command the First Army Corps.

That means both find it difficult to carve out time freely.

“So, let’s decide on our future response; we can discuss the ones who are not here later, can’t we?”

I nod at the reasonable suggestion.

“Yes, then we should first assess the current situation. Chancellor, have you heard anything from Freya about the situation or any peculiarities at the front?”

“No, nothing yet.”

“I see.”

Given Freya’s personality, if something significant had occurred, she would have shared it with the Chancellor, so it seems there are no major trends at the front.

“And there was no word regarding the Megabase, either?”

“There hasn’t been any mention of whether the front-line troops are doing well or not.”

The advancing Megabase remains a significant variable.

However, despite various factors being misaligned, its rate of advancement has not deviated much from the flow I was aware of.

In other words, it is a somewhat fortunate outcome amid misfortune.

As I organize my thoughts, the Chancellor seems to recall something.

“Chancellor? Why do you look like that?”

“It’s nothing particularly important, but listening to you reminded me of something Freya said last time.”

“Freya? What did she say?”

“It’s about how many aliens were captured due to your efforts. It seems Freya is quite concerned about their treatment.”

Oh, those aliens?

During the process of neutralizing the Third Fleet, many aliens perished, but quite a few survived.

These unintended alien prisoners we gained while capturing them.

“I hear that the supplies obtained from them are running low, so we should make a decision soon.”

Though the Chancellor mumbles this as if to himself, another plan begins to form in my mind.

“Wait a moment, Chancellor. About those alien prisoners, I take it they don’t have much use, right?”

“I heard they are used for simple labor such as trench digging under surveillance, but why do you ask?”

“I’ve thought of a good idea.”

A smile naturally surfaces.

The Chancellor tilts his head slightly.

“A good idea?”

“Yes. How about we deal a significant blow to those aliens this time?”

…

A massive fleet occupying Earth’s satellite orbit.

At the center stands a golden circular structure with a tall observation tower.

Thud, thud.

Footsteps echoing in the quiet observation tower.

An alien, resembling an octopus, anxiously paces back and forth, unable to hide its nervousness.

The many ornaments on its luxurious uniform symbolize the achievements and accomplishments it obtained while serving in the Imperial Army.

However, despite such honorable adornments, the anxiety blooming deep within its heart remained significant.

“Huh.”

Despite having the capital ship fleet and enough strength, it felt powerless.

Admiral Rigerda of the First Interstellar Fleet looks down at Earth with melancholic eyes.

A long silence.

Ziiing—

At the sound of a door opening, Rigerda reflexively turns his head.

In contrast to him, an alien with insect-like features at the reverse joint appears.

At first glance, it looks grotesque, but a smile comes to Rigerda’s face upon seeing it.

“Oh, Tumhan! What happened?”

Rigerda approaches quickly, calling its name.

“Admiral, that is….”

The smile fades from Rigerda’s face as he sees Tumhan trailing off.

“Don’t tell me…?”

“Yes, as you predicted, Admiral. The Third Interstellar Fleet appears to have been annihilated.”

“Huh.”

A deep sigh.

Rigerda narrows his brows as he confronts the worst outcome he had anticipated but didn’t want to believe.

“What on earth happened…!”

Rigerda mutters almost to himself.

But for some reason, Tumhan’s gaze was directed downwards.

“Hmm? Tumhan, why do you look like that?”

“Admiral, it’s truly unfortunate, but please take a look at this.”

Tumhan operates the handheld device in his hand.

A holographic screen pops up above the device, projecting several images.

“What…?!”

Rigerda gasps in shock upon seeing the photos.

No wonder, the images reveal the ships of the vanished Third Interstellar Fleet still intact.

“What is this, Tumhan! Explain it to me!”

“That is….”

Tumhan trails off yet again, seeming unable to speak.

“Hurry!”

Underneath Rigerda’s mounting impatience, Tumhan finally speaks.

“The images you just saw were taken of a base belonging to the native organism known as humans.”

“…Wait, did I hear that right? A base belonging to humans?”

“Yes, you heard correctly.”

Rigerda’s expression goes blank in shock.

However, soon Rigerda shakes off the shock, and his mind starts racing rapidly.

The silent Third Interstellar Fleet and the ships affiliated with the Third Fleet now hovering over a human base.

It could mean only one thing.

The Third Interstellar Fleet has been defeated by humans, and their ships have been seized.

“Oh my god…!”

Rigerda’s eyes widen in panic at the overwhelmingly worse outcome than he had expected.

But it wasn’t the end.

“…Admiral.”

“What is it, Tumhan?”

Rigerda remains tense against the continued bad news.

With a careful glance, Tumhan steadies himself and reports.

“A video message has just arrived via the communications line of the Third Fleet.”

“A video message?”

“Yes. What will you do?”

“Play it.”

Tumhan manipulates the handheld device according to Rigerda’s instructions.

The image of the Third Fleet disappears from the holographic screen, replaced by Edu, the native organism with long silver hair, smiling brightly.

[Hello, alien uncles?]