Chapter 149

Gloomy weather with thick clouds.

The cold wind carries the scent of oil and metal, spreading around.

An alien structure sits at the heart of the frozen tundra.

Inside a steel fortress made of iron and metal, which is distinctly different from Earth’s architectural styles, ominous red lights constantly flicker.

The Invaders’ ground fortress.

Among them, the tallest dome-shaped space is where the high processing unit—K1’s thoughts flow in.

Five robots occupy the five chairs surrounding K1.

The steel knight, Eisen Lier, raises his head and is the first to respond upon confirming K1’s arrival.

[ You’ve come? From your appearance… it seems things didn’t go as planned. ]

[ …Affirmative, bug removal has failed. ]

[ That can’t be all, can it? ]

A robot with a design resembling one with heat dissipation fans on its face interjects, pressing K1 for answers.

[ …Affirmative, there has been significant damage to our forces. ]

[ Sometimes less is more. It feels like this situation is a perfect example of that. ]

The cylindrical-faced robot slowly shakes its head.

It’s uncertain whether the slow response is a display of leisure or just sluggishness, but it resembles more of a human habit than robot behavior.

[ What about specific troop losses? Can we make up for them? ]

[ …. ]

A sleek, curved female robot asks the question, but K1 remains silent.

Observing this, the heat dissipation fan robot responds again.

[ So I said, you need to trust and utilize us more. ]

Only after hearing this reprimand does K1 finally speak up.

[ …Affirmative, but it’s still too early. I request to wait. ]

Eisen Lier’s gaze turns toward K1 with subtle rejection.

[ Do you have anything prepared separately? ]

[ Inquiry, please provide a detailed explanation of what you mean by preparation. ]

[ I mean whether you’re considering anything other than victory. ]

[ Denial, I am always acting for victory. That question is deemed a worthless act. ]

K1 dismisses Eisen Lier’s words.

In fact, there was a reason K1 refrained from using the presence of the first-generation commanders despite having discovered them.

It was an intention not to be led by the words of the first-generation commander entities, but to establish a clear hierarchy and command system.

– Such a situation must not happen again.

In K1’s thought circuits, the events from the previous day when Eisen Lier acted come to mind.

An independent action completely ignoring K1’s orders, which had priority.

Thanks to that, even the existence of the first-generation commanders was revealed, yet Eisen Lier still did not follow K1’s orders properly.

Despite K1 attempting to intervene directly in the situation, pushing aside the first-generation commanders—

[ Is that so? I’m surprised you let such an opportunity slip away; I thought you might have been thinking of something else. ]

[ …. ]

K1 remains silent in response to Eisen Lier’s harsh evaluation.

It’s a truth K1 doesn’t want to acknowledge, but Eisen Lier was right; they had squandered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

A truly devastating defeat.

Of course, K1 had its own grievances but knew that making excuses in such a situation wouldn’t do any good.

[ …Confirming, I will issue more organic commands regarding that matter. I will now share information from the frontlines, so please pay attention. ]

K1 subtly changes the topic of conversation, sharing a condensed overview of the situation with the first-generation commanders.

[ Information delivery complete; I will now return. ]

With its tasks completed, K1 disappears, leaving the five commanders facing each other in their seats.

[ Still, they don’t trust us. ]

[ High processing units dislike the autonomous actions of commander entities. Moreover, I suppose Eisen Lier is dissatisfied with what has transpired. ]

The other commanders direct their gazes toward Eisen Lier.

Despite the cold stares, the steel knight responds without a hint of intimidation, merely nodding.

[ Well, we can’t just remain in the rear when we’ve come across formidable foes after such a long time! ]

[ I agree; cowering in fear won’t resolve the situation. ]

The cylindrical robot taps the desk once.

[ It doesn’t matter. We should wait a bit longer. ]

The heat dissipation fan robot speaks while releasing dense steam.

[ Learning comes from breaking and damaging things too. ]

At that moment, while the five commanders were discussing such matters,

K1, having returned as the high processing unit, concentrates and sends a message somewhere.

[ Instruction, requesting information on the marching situation of the M1 fortification battalion. ]

[ Confirmed, currently moving through the N3-A1 region. It is anticipated we will soon face the humans’ additional defensive lines. ]

A response comes back from the fortification battalion, Megabase, confirming K1’s orders.

Even after a considerable period since breaching the humans’ frontlines, Megabase shows sluggish advancement.

However, this sluggishness is the only weakness that Megabase has had to bear due to the trade-off for heavy armor and powerful firepower.

Because it is so large and heavy, its operation is severely restricted outside of open plains.

K1 was well aware of this fact and hadn’t especially pressed Megabase until now, but due to the emergence of bugs and the situation unfolding in the occupied territories, K1 grew anxious about the enemy’s strength.

[ Request, is it possible to increase marching speed by dispatching additional troops? ]

[ Positive, it should be feasible as long as a path is secured. ]

[ Confirmed, I will dispatch equipment for development and additional combat troops. I expect efficient use. ]

[ Positive, we will commence marching again as soon as support arrives. ]

….

After finishing a major battle, the Fangju returns.

What awaits there is an overwhelming onslaught of camera shutters.

The blinding flashes and the clicking of shutters are overwhelming.

As I raise my hand to shield my eyes from the intense brightness, the reporters and journalists swarm around me.

“This was another impressive victory, Edu! You defeated those aliens again?”

“Your achievements stand out as a first-year academy student!”

“Edu! Please say something!”

Voices flood in from all directions.

“Uh, uh….”

Caught off guard by the situation, Jack steps forward and organizes things.

“It seems Edu is startled by your sudden approach; how about officially requesting an interview at the academy later?”

“Still, the sooner, the better—”

“That would be for the best, right?”

Jack lightly bows to the reporters and speaks again.

With his large frame and shadowy face exuding intense pressure, the people reluctantly nod in agreement.

“Edu, let’s go.”

“Ah, okay. Thank you, Jack.”

I bow my head once toward the gathered crowd and head to the academy with my friends.

“It was surprising.”

“Why would you be startled by that, Edu? It’s only the beginning from now on.”

“…What do you mean Edward?”

“You were already quite recognized in the Fangju, so given that, it’s only natural that people’s interest in you would keep rising as you continue to succeed.”

Edward shrugs.

“As proof, look over there.”

Turning my head in the direction of Edward’s finger, I see people on the other side of the street looking at us.

“Eh? Isn’t that Edu?”

“It looks like it, right? It’s the little hero!”

“Edu! We’re cheering for you!”

“Good luck!!”

…I stand corrected; they’re not looking at us but at me.

Not wanting to ignore the people, regardless of age, waving their hands in my direction, I raise my hand to wave back at them.

“Th-thank you.”

“Ah! You looked over here!”

“The video was pretty, but in reality, you’re so cute!”

“Whoa! Edu saw me! You’re going to take me to the Agricultural Nation!”

“….”

Just listening makes me feel embarrassed.

There seems to be someone a bit odd among them, but I feel like my face is going to burst from embarrassment, so I urge Bungbungi.

“Bungbung, let’s head to the academy. As quick as possible!”

[ Beep. /⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝]

We hurry back to the academy.

But there, too, awaits the interest of many.

“Ah, it’s Edu.”

“The little hero! The little hero!”

“Hey~ Is it true you did something big again? Are you really a first-year student?”

Students rush toward me as soon as they see me.

Another uproar breaks out, and thanks to Jack’s mediation, we finally return to my room in the dormitory.

“Huh.”

Diving straight onto the bed, Hands gently covers me with a blanket.

[ Did something happen? ]

Nightmare asks.

“I’m more embarrassed than I thought to be recognized even by people I don’t know.”

[ That’s the fate of a celebrity; it’s an unavoidable part. ]

“…You feel oddly like an observer?”

[ Actually, I am an observer. ]

With a teasing tone, I can’t help but puff my cheeks.

“Ugh, I’m going to sleep!”

[ Please, go ahead. You’ve had a long day. ]

As Edu’s body turns, it’s not long before the sounds of snoring fill the room.

The little hero, a name that starkly contrasts with the attention I receive.

The little girl, feeling a bit burdened by the attention, chooses to forget it all and fall into a deep sleep.