Chapter 95

The next morning.

Riding on Nisia’s back, we head toward Obelisk.

“Hmm, have both of you arrived?”

Inside the room, Ryuje greets us.

She puts down her cup after taking a sip of her coffee, which was steaming with rising wisps.

A faint look of fatigue was apparent on her face.

“How much sleep did you get?”

“There’s a lot to do.”

“…That’s understandable.”

The devastated Fangju 6.

Even though the situation has ended, the aftermath remains.

Aside from protecting the survivors, there were countless tasks awaiting Ryuje and Freya, such as collecting the remains of the victims and tracking down the Arondight.

“Is Freya not here because of that?”

“Yes, it seems they’re holding a meeting on what to do with the refugees.”

“Wh, what will happen to those people? Is there any plan to repair the Fangju…?”

Shaking her head at Nisia’s cautious question, Ryuje responds.

“There won’t be any repairs. Fangju 6’s location has been exposed, and since it’s been infiltrated by enemies, the probability of it being destroyed is higher.”

“Destroyed?”

“Yes, the self-destruction mechanism of the Fangju will be activated.”

“Self-destruction….”

Nisia’s face darkens at Ryuje’s reply.

At that moment, the door swings open, and Freya walks in, her face weary.

“Welcome, Freya.”

“Hello.”

“Edo, Nisia. You’re already here?”

Freya greets us with a slightly surprised tone.

She is questioned by Ryuze.

“Already? Have you checked the time?”

“The time? Oh.”

Freya smacks her forehead.

“It’s already this late, I was too distracted between yesterday and today….”

“That’s understandable, how about a cup of tea?”

“No, thank you. It doesn’t suit my taste.”

Freya declines Ryuje’s offer and sits down in a chair.

Despite showing signs of great fatigue, after stretching, her eyes become much clearer.

“Then, shall we talk about this matter?”

“Yes.”

The atmosphere in the room grows heavy at Freya’s words.

“Though this is merely my guess….”

Freya taps her index finger on the table.

“They seemed to be targeting people.”

However, her other hand was gently touching her ear.

A habit Freya shows when she’s lying.

If that’s the case, then Freya has significant confidence in what she just said.

“My thoughts align with yours, Arondight… What was it? That person’s attack was clearly aimed at the survivors.”

“Edo. Is there any characteristic about those two that would prioritize attacking people?”

“Yes, there isn’t.”

“Right….”

Freya falls into thought.

“Yes, my thoughts align with yours.”

There were mainly two reasons why I agreed with their opinions.

The first one was the strange behavior of the things that Ryuju and Freya noticed.

Both Arondight and Daenslaitf are enemies of long-range types.

In other words, they are weapons specialized in attacking enemies from afar.

However, the area where it was wandering was the heart of the city, densely packed with buildings.

It’s difficult to secure visibility in such a place, and the buildings themselves become obstacles.

So, the fact that it was loitering in the city center was like playing a self-destructing move that diminishes its advantages.

Certainly, its armor and weaponry were robust, which gave it a high self-combat capability. But that’s only a secondary function, not a reason to abandon its strengths.

The second reason was that the direction of its attacks clearly deviated from the AOE.

When Fangju 6 was attacked within the AOE, the first places to be hit were the Central Command and the Academy.

But now? Those two places were unscathed, and other areas were destroyed.

Attacking places that weren’t core facilities but were where people lived and were located, without any other distinguishing features.

Something this unusual would never happen without some intent.

“There’s some sort of scheme.”

“Indeed, Ed’s thoughts align with mine as well? But why have they suddenly started acting this way….”

“Hmm.”

Silence falls.

As we all put our heads together to think, Nisia quietly raises her hand.

“Um….”

“Nisia? Do you have something to say?”

“Yes. Wasn’t it possible they were gathering information?”

Nisia carefully continues her thought.

Her words intrigue Ryujoe as she nods with interest.

“Hmm? Please continue.”

“Ah, yes. Didn’t the Daenslaitf break apart the moment Arondight retreated?”

“That’s correct.”

“Isn’t that a bit strange? Edo said that they were twin weapons, so did they really need to be so far apart?”

Nisia’s question makes everyone pause in thought.

“…That’s true, now that I think about it, it seems like one of them was left out as bait.”

“An interesting hypothesis. What do you think, Ed?”

“Admittedly, what I know about their battle style is very different.”

At that moment, my head was hot, and I was focused on the battle, so I only vaguely noticed. However, with Nisia’s point in mind, something did seem off now that I think about it.

Their biggest danger was the bombardment and barrage from a distance.

The dilemma that one side would be exposed to the other’s attack while targeting one side disappeared when they split up.

Why did they act that way?

“With some sort of scheme to use one of the twin weapons as bait…?”

Ryuje trails off.

“For some reason, it doesn’t feel like a good omen.”

Although none of us knows the exact reason, we all nod in agreement.

“In that case, we must raise our guard against them one more level.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

“I’ll also organize the upcoming potential dangerous events and inform you accordingly.”

There are many strange aspects, but answers don’t come just by pondering endlessly.

So right now, it’s better to focus on what we can do rather than trying to find unclear answers.

“Okay, I trust you.”

Freya answers with a smile.

“Then let’s end the discussion here? I have another meeting.”

“Ah, yes.”

“You look tired, yet you have another meeting?”

In response to my question, Freya smiles faintly.

“Don’t worry, this is our job. Let the adults handle the adult matters?”

“Yes, Freya is right. You two go rest now.”

Freya and Ryuje considerately take care of us.

As it wouldn’t be right to outright refuse their kindness, I accept it.

“Okay, thank you.”

“Thank you.”

Nisia bows her head following me.

After exchanging pleasantries with them, we leave the room.

….

Immediately after Edo and Nisia left the room, Freya, who had mentioned another meeting, didn’t move at all.

Likewise, Ryujo remained seated.

After some time had passed, someone gently taps on the door.

– General Commander, that person has arrived.

“Oh, tell them they can enter.”

– Understood.

The door swings open.

A neatly dressed old elf with white hair neatly tied back in an updo and elongated ears enters: Haphandel.

“Greetings, both of you. What an honor it is to meet the heroes who uphold humanity.”

“I’m done with formalities. Rather, what did you want to talk to us about?”

Saying this to an elder who looks much older, Ryujo’s actual age, in contrast, is much younger, recalls this fact while Freya also focuses on the conversation.

“You’re a bit rushed, aren’t you? Still, I understand your situation after what happened.”

While seemingly considerate, Haphandel subtly throws out a sharp opening.

At the seasoned action, Ryuje lets out a small sigh.

“So, you already know, did you?”

“Of course, in a world where slow information could mean the difference between survival, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Indeed, and who’s backing you to come here?”

Saying this while guarding Haphandel, Ryujo questioned.

But after hearing that, Haphandel blinks his eyes and laughs heartily.

“Backed? No, Director. I act solely according to my heart.”

“Are you asking me to believe that just like that?”

“You will understand soon.”

After saying that, Haphandel looks at Freya.

A word slowly comes out of his slowly opened mouth.

“Something better than a child…?”

Freya flinches, hearing the blurred word.

A phrase flows from her mouth.

“…A healthy child?”

“I will sacrifice myself to protect the child. I will shed light on the unblemished pure soul.”

Phrases continuously flow from Haphandel’s mouth.

Freya also raises her voice, in harmony with his words.

“To the children, dreams and hopes, casting away ugly desires, we will become lighthouses that eternally shine with a small light.”

A solemn dialogue that resembles a religious declaration.

Freya points her finger at Haphandel.

“Could it be, Mr. AW Ai Joa?”

“That’s correct, Miss AI Lover1234.”

Haphandel nods with an affectionate smile.

Freya rises from her seat and approaches Haphandel, and Haphandel also raises his hand.

Snap!

Their interlocking hands.

Holding each other’s hands tightly as if sharing a bond of friendship, they do so.

In the gaze directed at the other, the firm determination of those dreaming the same ideal flows.

“The child!”

“Will be protected!”

As if in perfect harmony, their words go back and forth.

“…”

Ryujo’s face and eyes narrowed while watching all of this, but the two, reunited with an old colleague, didn’t notice the change in Ryujo’s expression.

“It’s truly been a long time since I’ve seen you, Mr. AW Ai Joa.”

Freya smiles, forgetting her fatigue.

“Indeed, Miss AI Lover1234. We couldn’t have a conversation since your Academy graduation, so… Quite some time has passed.”

Haphandel responds and nods.

Thinking that they would continue their strange behavior if left alone, Ryujo interrupts them.

“Wait a moment, Joa, Lover, regardless—it wasn’t for such talk that you came, was it?”

“Excuse me, Director.”

Haphandel bows in response to Ryujo’s remark.

“So, what is the matter?”

“The Fangju governments are in motion.”

His words make Ryujo’s eyes widen.

“The government?”

“Yes, they seem to be planning something regarding this failure.”

“Idiotic acts again…!”

Frowning and showing her anger, Ryujo.

“Calm down, Director.”

“Yes, but can this be taken lightly?”

“While I agree with you, Director, shouldn’t such matters be handled calmly and sensibly?”

Haphandel speaks in a calm tone.

Reacting to that, Ryujo takes a deep breath to compose herself.

Confirming this, Haphandel speaks again.

“So, what if we strike first instead of playing along with their inferior plans?”

“Strike first?”

“Yes. Haven’t you two been withholding the recent victory for such a situation?”

The recent victory.

The two nod, recalling Edu and the captured ships.

While rumors might spread, the official announcement makes a significant difference.

Thus, the two had been holding back the triumph like a card, refraining from informing Fangju about their significant accomplishments.

“So, may I request your ears for a moment?”

With these words from Haphandel, the two move closer to him.

After the explanation follows, Ryujo and Freya’s expressions change variously, and by the end, their eyes open wide.

“Ho… Though it’s certainly not a bad plan, why are you offering such extensive help?”

“I heard some unpleasant rumors in the past.”

“Unpleasant rumors?”

“That’s right. A story about taking a child away like a kidnapping without proper confirmation and doing unsavory deeds.”

As he says this, deep anger and sadness dwell in Haphandel’s face.

“At first, I doubted it greatly. After all, there was no reason for such stories to circulate suddenly.”

Haphandel’s gaze turns toward Ryujo.

“Unless it wasn’t to protect someone.”

“…”

Ryujo nods affirmatively.

“I understand what you mean. However, with the last supply support and all, why are you going to such lengths? Aren’t you and the child just strangers?”

“Strangers? You’re mistaken.”

Haphandel replies firmly.

“That child is a friend of my only granddaughter, which makes her practically my granddaughter, doesn’t it?”

“…Eh?”

Ryujo is taken aback by the sudden logic.

Haphandel, who casually used the granddaughter duplication glitch, declares proudly.

“Thus, I don’t intend to tolerate anyone who mistreats children, or more specifically, my granddaughter.”

The subtle anger in his voice.

Yet the direction of this anger was clear.

Don’t worry, Edu!

This old man will scold the bad guys on your behalf!