Chapter 93: With Truth In Hand

Professor Chronos, I'm afraid you took a wrong turn.

No, that was you. You're the one who abandoned all you had, crushed your own potential, and disappeared.

Perhaps. I shouldn't have run away back then, that much is true.

But now that it's ended up like this, I will fight you with all I have, Chronos!

Ashtear?!

Interesting. Sooner or later, time in your world will disappear. When the cross of god is smashed, and the seal of the hollow time layer is broken...

Now, we shall see...just what the Goddess of Time can do.

......

Let me start by extending you an invitation... to the seat of the Chronos Empire.

Why would we ever agree to that? It's obviously a trap!

While I am inclined to agree, it doesn't seem we have much choice in the matter.

...Fine by me. It's a good chance to get to learn a little more about each other. "Know thine enemy" and all that.

......

Hmph... So be it. Come.

Commence phase transition.

As you command!

So this is the Chronos Empire...

Hmm... It'd look a lot like Elzion if it weren't for all the fascists.

Welcome to my empire. I've ordered a banquet prepared. It will take some time, so feel free to have a look around first.

Huh?

Shouldn't we take them into custody, my liege?

No. They couldn't escape even if they wanted to. As long as they refrain from entering restricted areas, I'm happy to grant them a certain level of freedom.

...How charitable of you, "my liege".

There's no need to be so cynical, professor. I merely wish to share with them the glory of the Empire. Perhaps then they will see the value in freeing this world from its shackles.

I trust we can be civil about this? There's no reason for us to be enemies...yet.

......

I'll give you some time to think it over.

Ah, and Minalca. You're being reassigned. I'd like you to escort our guests until your new orders are finalized.

...Understood.

Think carefully about what you do next. You cannot escape us and expect to survive. I could kill you and take the Ironheart here and now if I wanted to, but I'd prefer to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.

You could certainly try.

Hmph... As I said, let's keep things civil. After all, we're family of a sort, and who knows how the Ironheart would react to your deaths.

......

Kamlanage!

......

Even if it's supposedly impossible to escape, I'm surprised they'd let us just wander around.

Keep your guard up. They might be watching us.

Oh, they are, trust me. The entire city is under constant video surveillance. There's no point overthinking it. I'm going to go have a look around.

Ashtear, wait. What did you mean when you told the emperor you shouldn't have run? Is there something you're not telling us?

...I'll tell you about it when things calm down. I promise.

...Okay. I trust you. Let's scout out the imperial city.

H-Holy crap! They're gigantic!

Sensors indicate that they're most likely humanoid mobile combat units employed by the empire's military.

Quite..."strapping" for a weapon.

Seeing the empire's giant killer robots isn't improving my opinion of them much, gotta say.

Hey! How'd you kids get in here? This is a restricted area!

D-Dad?!

I'm afraid you've got the wrong man. My daughter's right over yonder. ...Though now that I take a closer look, the resemblance is uncanny. Wanna tell me what's goin' on here?

They're visitors from another time layer, Dad. The Emperor brought them here.

What the, ?!

You're...me!

Well met. Amy Ishar of the Imperial Mobile Forces.

Za'ol Ishar of the Imperial Engineering Corps.

Well, well! If it isn't this world's version of Amy and her esteemed father!

My father and I...are serving the Chronos Empire?

I've heard the stories, but it's still hard to believe there are other versions of us running around alternate time layers...

So? What do you think of the Nullgears?

Is that what you guys call those giant robots?

Yes. That's Nullgear Unit 01 Guilty Hades, and over there is its sister unit, Grand Hades.

They're at the cutting edge of the Empire's military technology, designed by Professor Sebastia herself. We're still in the testing stages, but once the technology is fully deployed it will completely turn the tide of the time war. Our victory in the endless struggle with the Goddess of Time will be assured.

The time war? What exactly are you planning?

I'm sure you'll find out when the time is right. We need to get back to work.

You seem like good kids. Here's hopin' we never find ourselves standin' on opposite sides of the battlefield.

Yeah... Cheers to that.

There you are, Kamlanage.

Ah, it's you. Sorry we had to meet again under these circumstances. I'm sure it came as quite a shock.

I take it you're the Kamlanage we've always known, then?

Why are you working with the Chronos Empire?

I... They told me I was kidnapped and taken to your time layer when I was still a newborn.

......

So you were originally from here, then?

So it seems, but there are still a lot of details I don't know.

If I'm being honest...I'm not sure how to feel about all this.

I don't know what I should do...

Kamlanage. I don't know what they told you, but I can tell you one thing for certain. Professor Madoka... Your mother, she...

She wanted you to live your life in that world, away from all this.

What?!

Ashtear... Do you know something?

This isn't the place to be having this conversation. Come with me.

...Don't forget what I just told you, Kamlanage.

......