The Scythe That Only Takes

One day, the lovely Olga decided to set out on a short excursion.

The ever-curious Olga had her attendant Emilie prepare for the trip and was looking for small routes that were rarely traveled by other humans.

As Olga wandered here and there like in a game of hide-and-seek, she stumbled upon an intriguing place...

A brilliant idea flashed through her mind.

This is the story of the child millionaire Olga's investment success.

We arrived at the far end of Galaxy Road, Route E473.

It was the most remote stretch of the route from Ironrain to Terrascion.

You came this way last year and said the exact same thing.

Last time it was because of that horrible work. This time I'm here for fun.

Either way, every time you come, all you do is shop.

Emilie, have I ever bought anything useless?

You do make quite a lot of impulse purchases.

They're not impulsive. I just have a sharp eye for market prices.

Do you remember the galactic supply depot we stopped at on the way?

The place we stopped at on the way... Are you referring to the Maxx Stop rest stop? It looked so old.

It's not like you're short on money, so why would you stop at a place like that?

The last supply depot on Route E473 was Scarlet Cloud, owned by the Rainbow Company.

But apparently they're on the verge of bankruptcy and have put the depot up for sale. They say it's on indefinite suspension.

All that's left are a few old hole-in-the-wall depots. Only three depots are left and Maxx Stop seemed to be the only one actually doing its job, so that's where I went.

It was nicer than I expected. I also found out that it was the first depot in that area.

I kind of like that depot.

So...

I'm going to buy it.

...Excuse me? The depot?!

A piece of junk like that would only cost a handful of gems at most. What's the problem?

Are you saying you've run out of things to collect and now you're going after supply ships, too?

Sigh... I just can't keep up with the way you think.

Olga didn't pay any attention to her and handed Emilie a black pouch.

Inside was more than enough money to purchase a small passenger spacecraft.

Here, take this to the owner of Maxx Stop and tell them to sell you the depot right now.

If it's not enough, I'll give you some more, but buy it on the spot.

Yes... Understood...

Emilie was dumbfounded, but soon resigned herself to it and made her way toward the depot.

Time passed quickly...

I've received a reply and returned, miss.

I purchased it on the spot, just as you instructed.

It turns out they were struggling under the pressure of a major corporation, with sales steadily dropping, and had been thinking of closing shop.

The owner was grateful that you paid more than expected and gave you this as a token of thanks.

Emilie handed Olga a fist-sized yellow gemstone.

Its luster was faint, but an extraordinary aura seemed to emanate from it.

Oh! I like it.

I was told you can begin operations at the depot right away. It's yours now.

Good, let's get started.

Olga finally set her real plan into motion.

That plan was... to log into the Maxx Stop manager's account and apply discounts to every single docking fee, merchandise price, and lodging charge.

The higher she raised the discounts, the lower the prices fell.

What are you doing?

What does it look like? I'm pretending to run a business.

If you lower the prices like that, there'll be nothing left for us to earn.

Hehe. It's a run-down old depot. Prices have to be this low if we want customers, don't you think?

Olga gleefully continued raising the discounts.

Just how far are you planning to cut them?

When the discount rate hit 80%, Olga stepped back and smiled.

That's far enough.

She then clicked the confirm button on the price adjustment screen and all prices were locked in at 20% of their original value.

But... there's nothing left at this rate. Even you will end up broke in no time if you keep running things this way.

That's exactly why you'll never make it, Emilie. Have I ever come out on the losing end when it comes to money games?

W-Well, no, but...

Then just sit back and watch.

I'll give you a front-row seat to something entertaining, free of charge.

Three months later...

Miss!

What's wrong?

Maxx Stop is filled to the brim. People are flooding in.

Of course. That's how it should be.

There are even passenger ships turning back to other depots because there's no room.

Then just call a docking station rental company and expand the parking spaces.

The thing is...we don't have enough money.

Oh, is that right?

You can't just answer so casually like that! We're losing money with every sale! Of course, the account is going to run dry.

At this rate, the balance will hit zero in three months. It's obvious.

Yeah, I know.

Aren't you worried? We're going to run out of money.

What about restocking? And, what about the plasma fuel charge costs?

We just order the bare minimum and hold out.

Handle the docking station rental fees with a depot-collateral loan for now.

But...this isn't pocket change...

Get the loan paperwork ready and take care of it right away. Got it?

...

Very well...

Emilie, you always worry about things that don't matter, that's your problem. Money is something you can always earn more of.

I guess an amount like this doesn't really matter to you.

I really do envy you, being able to move such large sums of money so effortlessly.

With this much money...

A gloomy look of sadness crossed Emilie's face.

A-Ah, it's nothing...

Emilie, don't waste your time worrying pointlessly. Money can't hold us back.

Now, hurry up and go get that loan!

...Understood.

Emilie, the time has come.

Hm? Time for what?

I'll show you the culmination of this little game today.

Can you search for the list of depots currently operating on Route E473?

Emilie pulled up a hologram monitor and ran the search.

Huh? There's only Maxx Stop.

The two remaining hole-in-the-wall places both shut down last week, one after the other. I figured they'd close within a month, but they held on a while longer.

When a corporate giant falls and only the small shops are left, if someone plays an ultra-low-price policy game of chicken, there's almost no way they can hold out.

Olga's prediction was 100% accurate!

After that, I dipped into my emergency funds and bought the last two depots as well. Now, those two are now the 2nd and 3rd branches of Maxx Stop.

Hehe... Watch this.

Now, the real fun starts.

Olga logged into the Maxx Stop manager's account and canceled all the discount promotions.

Then she raised the prices of every item to three times the base price.

Miss, won't we lose all our customers if it's that expensive?

If they don't come here, where else would they go?

Hm? Well, to another depot...

...Oh!

Even Emilie, young and naive as she was, could tell that Maxx Stop had monopolized the only supply depots at the end of Route E473.

Now, let's see how many poor souls end up as sacrificial lambs to the capitalist market.

Two more months passed, and the first settlement day since Maxx Stop's monopoly arrived.

The total number of customers was actually similar to when there was an 80% discount.

But the practice of raising the prices to three times the regular price worked like magic, inflating net profit after margins by dozens of times.

See? Traffic volume is fixed no matter what.

Olga was very pleased with the numbers on the final statement.

Let's see what everyone thinks, why don't we?

Olga logged onto the Galactic News Network and searched for articles related to Maxx Stop.

Maxx Stop Corners Market on Chokepoint. E473 Supply Depot Triples Prices—Effectively Toll Road. Is Monopoly on Galactic Supply Depots Acceptable...?

Perfectly successful. With this much coverage, the nibbles should start coming in soon...

Miss!

Just then, Emilie came running over, breathless and gasping.

There you are. How much are they offering to buy it for?

Huh? I haven't said anything yet. How did you know?

It's the ending of a game I designed. Of course I know.

The word "monopoly" is the juiciest bait for money-hungry adults.

A monopoly carries a fatal flaw... But the capitalist market is full of fools who see it as nothing but a mouth-watering meal.

Emilie handed over the electronic transaction documents. The price had two extra zeros tacked onto what Olga had originally paid for Maxx Stop!

Hm, not bad.

Olga immediately pressed her fingerprint onto the documents Emilie handed her and hit the sale confirmation button.

When an astronomical figure appeared in her account, Emilie stared at it and completely spaced out.

And that's the end of the supply depot game! Ah, that was fun!

Wow...

...You really seem to live in a completely different world than I do.

What are you talking about? You're with me every day.

You know that's not what I meant, don't you?

Don't force yourself to keep up with me. Someone without something special couldn't even attempt it.

Of course not...

And so, Olga became wealthy.

So, did Olga live happily ever after with Emilie, you ask?

Well, even the storyteller isn't quite sure. Whether this counts as happiness...

A-Anyway, that's the end of today's story!

The end! Dismissed!!

Olga had an attendant by the name of Emilie, who was as foolish and naive as they come.

Emilie was loyal, but she never understood a single one of Olga's refined sensibilities.

So, she had a habit of tacking on nagging remarks to everything Olga did.

Of course, Olga always ignored Emilie's advice. It wasn't entertaining nor meaningful.

So, Emilie began to hatch a scheme to show her mistress what she truly meant.

A few months after the supply depot game... Emilie decided to put her plan into action.

Miss... What do you think? Isn't it wonderful?

Emilie walked ahead through the streets in the midst of the festival and asked Olga. But Olga was indifferent.

Looks crowded and dull to me.

What?! Pilgrims' Walk is one of the largest festivals in the galaxy!

There are things to do all over the galaxy. Why would I spend my time coming to a place like this?

That's exactly why you have no friends.

How can a person live only thinking about work and efficiency?

Sometimes you need to deliberately take a break, take in a beautiful view. You have to enjoy a festival like this.

You always attend official ceremonies, but you've been skipping festivals entirely.

There's no need to go somewhere that holds no fun or excitement for me.

Eating festival food, watching fireworks, going to the temple to make a wish... You need to experience these kinds of joys, too.

I'm sure there'll be something interesting that catches your eye.

You never know. You might find something great and go on a shopping spree.

It's not like there's a black market here.

...Searching for stolen goods in the sacred Haven!

Wouldn't it be better to look for sacred relics imbued with people's wishes, or event prizes?

Well, since we're on the subject, why don't we head to the stalls? Or how about the venue with prize events?

Emilie seemed more excited than usual.

Hmm...? Fine, we might as well go look for some prizes.

Great! The prize event venue is kind of far from here...

Here it is! This way, miss!

Emilie stared intently at the map, then grabbed the hem of Olga's clothes and headed toward the event corner.

Step right up, step right up. The goldfish game is a rare treat not seen every day! Catch one and win a prize!

The thrilling firework rocket launch! Set a new record and win a fabulous prize!

Precision and technique, the pumpkin rolling game! All challengers welcome!

Hmm... This place is just as loud and tacky as every other festival.

Why? They all look like fun to me.

Don't just say that, give them a try yourself. Surely something like this is child's play for you?

...

Just then, Olga's eyes lit up.

She quickly looked over the shop owner's expression, the customers playing the game, and the game setup, and saw right through it all.

Hehe! There's actually something interesting here.

Emilie, let's go play some games!

Really? Alright, let's do it!

Emilie excitedly followed along behind Olga.

Olga stopped in front of the pumpkin rolling game.

It was a game where you rolled a pumpkin across a grass-covered field and won by landing it inside a circular ring on top of a mound in the center.

No one had won yet and the prize displayed on the sign was a top-of-the-line TTW taser.

Hello, pretty little lady! Would you like to give it a try?

Olga paid and picked up a pumpkin. It was heavy.

Olga bent down, swung her arm back and forth like a pendulum, and released.

The pumpkin tilted on its side and rolled along happily.

But unfortunately, it veered off to the side with a thud just before reaching the goal!

Oh! So close!

You should try again!

I was already planning to.

Olga carefully selected a pumpkin. She found one much lighter than before and lifted it up.

Then she rolled it in the exact same way! The pumpkin rolled three times as fast.

Oh no! At that rate it's going to overshoot!

The pumpkin, rolling along eagerly, then suddenly launched itself into the air right in front of the goal!

And then it landed precisely on the point and smashed to pieces!

Whooooa! Success on the second try!

Alright, hand over the prize.

Unfortunately, since the pumpkin was destroyed, this round doesn't count.

Boo! A win is a win!

That's cheating! You can't skip out like that!

Boos erupted from all sides.

Olga strode right onto the grass and kicked around the circular rim of the mound.

One by one, stones painted green popped up out of the ground.

What?! You rigged it with traps?

You little cheat! You tampered with it!

No wonder nobody could win! My money! Give back my entry fee!

The unexpected exposure of the rigging sent the venue into instant chaos.

Olga slipped away from the scene quietly.

What do we do...? You succeeded, but you didn't get your prize...

It's our company's products anyway. I don't need any of that.

Hehe, but, scamming the scammers is pretty fun, isn't it?

What?

Now then, let's try something else.

Olga swept her hawk-like gaze around and wandered off in search of a game that caught her eye.

At games like duck fishing, goldfish, and ring toss, she exposed the tricks the owners had hidden away and turned everything into a mess...

At games like roulette and the lottery draws, her sharp eye let her sweep up first, second, and third place prizes all at once.

Most of the games had tricks hidden in them, big or small. Olga relentlessly zeroed in on every single one.

Toward the end, they arrived at a dart game booth.

Hello, how much is the dart game?

Sorry, kid, we're not taking any more customers. Go play somewhere else.

What about those people there? They're throwing darts.

...Regardless, you two can't play. Go on home.

The two of them, having been shunted and turned down, visited several other booths, but it was the same story everywhere.

Olga and Emilie had already been banned across the festival grounds as "prize hunters."

Unable to play any more games, they walked out of the games section loaded with prizes.

You were right, Emilie.

The games here aren't too bad, actually. I'll give them that.

...You weren't exactly playing the games.

Emilie let out a sigh as she lugged an armful of prizes around.

So what? I had plenty of fun, too. It's just that everyone was using tricks.

Weren't you the one who specifically picked those places out?

Emilie, you're so naive.

There's no such thing as a trick-free game at a festival. They're all just merchants running their angles.

Angles or whatever, we could've just enjoyed the games as they were.

I didn't even get to touch a single game...

Are you upset because you didn't get to play, Emilie?

That's not what I meant! I just...

I wanted to play games with you...laugh and cry over the results together...

I wanted to make memories we could cherish together.

I asked you to play games and you went on a prize hunt instead... I was just a pack mule for the prizes...

It's given me plenty of memories. So, what's the problem?

Those aren't memories.

Then what are they?

They're records.

Oh, come on. What's wrong with records?

Emilie, what's gotten into you today? Getting upset over nothing.

...

Today...? Do you have any idea how hard I worked to plan a fun day for us?

Checking the parade schedule, compiling nearby restaurants, looking up tourist spots...

I even found Haven's famous games and the ballroom...

And all we have to show for it is a spot on a ban list... What happened...?

That's why I kept telling you...

Stop wasting time on pointless things and just do what I say...

...You are too much.

Emilie suddenly burst into tears right where she stood.

Olga was caught off guard for a moment. Emilie had gotten annoyed or frowned plenty of times before, but this was the first time she had ever cried.

If you keep doing things like this, your friends, your companions, everyone around you will leave you.

That's...that's really sad. You might not realize it, but...

Hmph... I-I don't need any of that. None of it matters to me.

...What?! Are you saying I should leave, too?

What are you talking about? You have to stay.

That's a strange thing to say. Does that mean I'm not a friend or a companion to you?

I don't know. I don't want to think too hard about it.

...

Alright...understood.

I've been worrying about so much, I'm hungry. I'm going to go get something to eat.

Emilie set down the things she'd been carrying with a thud, and turned away, tears streaming down her face.

H-Hey, Emilie...?

Where are you going?! You have to carry this stuff! Emilie!!

Until that moment, Olga hadn't realized it.

The fact that Emilie was, in truth, her one and only friend.

Having never had a friend before, Olga would only come to understand that much, much later.

And at an extremely high cost.

Remember the day we talked about going to the Haven festival with Emilie?

That was the day Emilie cried for the very first time.

The day had been going perfectly, winning lots of prizes, when Emilie suddenly turned her back on Olga and walked away.

As Emilie headed toward the street food court, Olga fell behind trying to gather up the abandoned prizes.

By the time she hurried over to the food court, Emilie was nowhere to be found.

Olga began combing through every small alley from where she stood all the way to the path leading to the Pilgrim's Steps.

Emilie was sitting alone on the steps of a narrow alley, eating skewers.

Emilie, why did you go off on your own?

...

Emilie lifted her head and looked at Olga.

Her eyes were still brimming with tears.

She didn't answer, only went back to picking at her skewer.

Emilie!

...

Sigh. Never mind.

Olga grabbed a skewer from the box on the steps and sat down beside Emilie.

The two of them ate in silence for a while.

It wasn't until Olga had finished two skewers that she finally spoke.

Those prizes. I donated them all to the Haven Relief Foundation.

...Really?

Emilie snapped her head around to look at Olga. Just as she had said, she wasn't carrying anything.

It was only a couple anyway, and it's a pain to carry them around without you.

It was too much of a pain for me to lug them around, so...

...I see.

Emilie.

If you have something to say, say it now.

I'll listen to you today.

Do you really mean that?

But only this once. If you whine like this again, I really will go off on my own.

...Okay! Once is all I need!

Instead, promise me you'll listen to whatever I have to say! Alright?!

Fine, now stop pestering me.

Haha...

Just for today, come along with me and do what I do.

I don't want to hear any comments like "this isn't enough" or "it's boring" for now.

I've always gone along with whatever you wanted to do.

Just for today, please.

Fine... So, what are we doing?

There's somewhere I've been wanting to go with you.

Emilie stood up from her seat, took Olga's hand, and headed up the stairs.

This is...the Temple of Diallos.

It's not just any temple.

It's Valentin's chapel, where wishes are granted. One of Haven's most famous landmarks.

They say if you make an offering here and wish for two things, Diallos will grant at least one of them.

You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this day.

I didn't know you were a follower of Diallos, Emilie.

Apparently, you don't have to be. It seems they grant wishes to anyone who prays here.

And sometimes, if your devotion is true enough, both wishes are granted.

Alright, I'll make my wish first.

Emilie placed a considerable portion of the wages she had saved into the offering box.

Olga thought Haven was simply using the offering box as a legal scheme to squeeze money out of its followers, but she chose not to bring it up.

Emilie put on a very solemn expression, clasped her hands together, and closed her eyes.

After a brief moment, she gave a small bow.

Now it's your turn.

I have no wishes that need to be fulfilled by power borrowed from some god.

Then do you want me to make a wish on your behalf?

Don't waste your money on that. I'll just make one myself.

Olga flicked a coin out of her pocket and said,

I, Olga, ask of Diallos, may no more annoying days like today ever come to pass.

Or else, restore the losses equal to the value of the prizes I donated today.

That's your wish?

Emilie, I only made one because you told me to.

I couldn't care less whether the wish comes true or not.

...You're not curious about my wish, are you?

Why, do you want me to be?

Yes, I want to tell you.

Alright, alright. What was your wish, Emilie?

The first was a wish for me to be given enough ability and strength.

The other was a wish that you would find a friend.

The second wish is pointless.

Not at all. If that wish comes true, someday you'll be incredibly grateful to me.

Ugh, why on earth are you so obsessed with me having friends?

Because it seemed like the wish you needed the most.

What do you think a friend is?

A fancy repackaging of an alliance.

An alliance...that's a far too political way of putting it.

All relationships are political at their core.

You need to understand that, that's not true.

A friend is someone who knows every single one of your flaws and still gives everything for you.

Who says that?

A famous literary author.

And, you believe it?

Yes, because I already have a friend.

Oh? Must be nice, having a friend.

But don't try to force it on me.

Of course not. Friends can't be forced.

And...as for my first wish.

It's to gain the drive to live life on my own terms.

You get whatever you want and do whatever you please.

Of course.

That's because you have the ability and strength to do so.

I don't have your level of ability or wealth...so that's why...

If I could have that kind of ability and strength, too, I think I could live the life I've dreamed of.

Then you'd run away from me, wouldn't you?

If that's what worries you, then you'd better hope the other wish comes true.

Ugh... I really don't need any friends!

As the two of them made their way home, they stopped in front of a souvenir shop.

Oh, look at that!

It's Haven's famous souvenir, the Fortune Pouch!

Fortune Pouch?

It's a pouch containing one of 50 different fortunes. Apparently, the note inside determines your luck for the entire year.

Drawing fortunes, huh. A common sales gimmick.

It's not expensive, so let's try one. I'll buy it.

As everyone knows, Olga has a knack for vaguely sensing the desires of humans.

So, she also noticed that the pouch absorbing the wishes of humans contained the most valuable fortune.

Using her sharp eye, Olga chose the best pouch, while Emilie just grabbed one at random.

Now then, let's open it...

Wait!

What, what now?

In Haven, you're supposed to open the Fortune Pouch after giving it as a present.

...A present?

The two of you each give the pouch you drew to the other person and then open your fortunes...

See? It says right here that's how the fortune comes true! It's a tradition, apparently.

You didn't... Is that why you brought me here?

To take the fortune I drew?!

Hehe. Was it that obvious?

Well, it's a cheap little gimmick. Do whatever you want.

The two of them exchanged their Fortune Pouches.

Wow! My fortune says, "A precious treasure will fall into your hands"!

What does yours say?

It's nothing special. Here, read it yourself.

Let me see...

...Whoa, "You will gain a good friend"! First the wish and now the charm!

Maybe you really will make a friend!

I'd better see how much I can sell a friend for.

Olga and Emilie tucked their Fortune Pouches into their pockets and finished sightseeing in Haven.

Unfortunately, Emilie's first wish did not come true.

She didn't gain any power or ability, instead, it was Olga who obtained Vytor's scythe.

But as for Emilie's second wish...

I can't help but feel that it might be coming true.

What do you think a friend is?

A fancy repackaging of an alliance.

An alliance...that's a far too political way of putting it.

All relationships are political at their core.

You need to understand that, that's not true.

A friend is someone who knows every single one of your flaws and still gives everything for you.

I'll have whatever I want. That's what I was born for.

A lot of things will end up broken or ruined along the way, but...

That's entirely the fault of whatever broke. If they hadn't been born so weak in the first place, they wouldn't have broken at all.

But Captain... You would never...

...No, I won't say anything. I feel like I'll just keep saying things I'll be embarrassed about...

I think I understand, at least a little, why Emilie said what she said.

Captain...

Is something wrong, Olga?

It's nothing.

Alright.

The SS Nightmare just departed. Tell me our next destination and I'll enter it into the navigation system.

Where should we go?

Hmm, let's go somewhere a bit more exciting?

Spending too much time in old memories makes you go soft. I could use a change of pace.

...Captain, let's meet again someday.

Until then, make sure you don't get hurt, so we can meet each other with smiles when we do. Got it?

Because, you're my friend, Captain.

...

...

...I'm sorry. Because of me... I just panicked so much that I...

No! Hilde, you were right!

If we'd stayed in Chaos, we'd all have been bug food!

Bug food... Right, yeah...

Ahhh... Hilde's expression keeps getting darker! This has never happened before!

Eunie's right. There were no casualties, so count that as a blessing.

We can always go after Anis again. For now, everyone get some rest.

Even the captain had trouble finding the way, so Anis must be wandering around lost inside Chaos too.

If we go back as fast as possible and break through just a little more of the walls... Ow ow ow, my shoulder...

...

Like sweat cooling after an intense race, the agents' emotions, overheated from the pursuit, gradually settle.

Only Olga remains, grinning cheerfully as she examines the monitors in the Operations Command Center.

Hmhm! So the armory is this way? I wonder just how powerful the weapons in there are!

...You seem very interested in weapons.

I told you. I want power.

Powerful weapons are the source of the power I desire. No matter how many I collect, it's never enough.

It seems like it'll take you all quite a while to pull yourselves together, mind if I go take a look at the armory?

No. That area is off-limits to outsiders.

Then is this an accessible area, which is why you let us in?

Resolving that very issue is part of why we came back.

Anika picks up her gunblade and approaches Olga. At that, Emilie, who has been standing nearby, immediately steps between Anika and Olga.

...

We know nothing about you people, and we have no reason to trust you.

If you want to participate in our operations, show us some grounds for cooperation.

Hmm! And if I refuse?!

Then we go by the book. You still haven't cleared the suspicion that you attempted to kill the captain.

Ha, playing cheap tricks. Do you threaten me like that because you don't know who I am?

...It's because we don't know who you are that we're asking you to tell us. If you have nothing to hide, just say so, why do you keep dodging the question?

I'm not hiding anything. I just can't be bothered being polite to people who aren't worth my time.

Right, maybe the captain is someone I can actually have a real conversation with.

After all, the captain, who holds the most exceptional power among all of you, might want to make a slightly good impression on me!

Though right now you seem a bit pathetic and feeble, admittedly.

Hmph...

Perhaps because that reaction wasn't what she expected, Olga quickly turns her head away, as if sulking.

Captain...

Sigh...

What on earth did you do this time to end up like this? There are almost no prior cases, so I spent the whole day staring at monitors.

It's a phenomenon that occurred while infiltrating the Kaleidoscope Hatchery Chaos.

It was not something the captain intended, and I bear responsibility for failing to protect the captain... My apologies, Elaine...

I already heard about that from the captain, but... Judging by the reaction, I can't even bring myself to lecture you.

Information regarding the Protos's abilities is classified even within the Empire, so I can't go into detail here.

So to put it simply, the captain's guess was right. The Chaos relic reportedly used by the leader of the Black Spica is the cause.

The unique properties of the Kaleidoscope Hatchery have latched onto the captain, acting like a magnet that draws Chaos in, as it were.

Hehe!

Beyond Elaine's hologram, Olga smiles with a look of smug satisfaction.

Protos can find their way through Chaos, so there are times when various interactions related to Chaos occur more intensely.

Then is there no way to recover? Every second counts.

If you need help, we'll do whatever we can!

Just say the word. I can provide emergency treatment right now.

I appreciate the thought, but Rei or Mika's abilities alone won't be enough. One wrong move and both of them could end up in serious trouble.

First, we need to precisely analyze the properties of the Kaleidoscope Hatchery and perform surgery to carefully extract it from the captain's body...

From what I've heard, it's a Chaos that induces visual and auditory hallucinations, right? Just analyzing its components will take at least three days. And there's no guarantee the surgery will even succeed.

With proper meals and rest, recovery is possible, but it'll take at least a week.

...! Elaine, to that extent...

We don't have that kind of time.

If we don't catch Anis right now, we might lose the power she holds forever.

Hm? I don't think I've seen your before... Did the SS Ironrain have a unit dressed like that?

So all we need to do is separate the Chaos components unique to the Kaleidoscope Hatchery from the captain, right?

Just trust me, I'll figure something out, hehe!

Olga pushes aside the hologram of Elaine and steps into the center of the group. Elaine takes a sip of coffee and raises an eyebrow.

Hmm...? That weapon is...

So, then.

I've brought that lame captain to my room! Woohoo!

So! How does it feel to be invited into a cute lady's secret room?!

Ahahahaha! Look at how flustered you are! That's hilarious!

Alone together in a strange woman's room for some quality time...

Isn't that every guy's dream? Hm? Hm?

The SS Deneb... The Black Spica's Ark?

I close my eyes and sink into thought. The memory of being in the SS Ironrain's Operations Command Center just a few hours ago flashes through my mind.

You want to take the captain away?

As Renoa uncrossed her arms, Janet, who had been walking past with an instant coffee in hand, stumbled.

Watch it, you almost spilled everything!

Sorry. But...

What happened on the SS Deneb was already outrageous enough, and now they're telling us to send the captain out alone again.

Apparently it's the fastest way to recover the Protos's abilities, so what can we do?

Ha... How are we supposed to just trust that.

Captain, let's go after Arabella instead.

If we capture Arabella, we can keep tracking Anis.

If the SS Deneb is operating in space, we don't need to infiltrate Chaos right away... We've had more than enough grounds to arrest Arabella ever since she put the captain in danger.

...I agree.

Trying to infiltrate during the legion's great migration would easily lead to a much bigger disaster.

We can't know where Anis will be or what she'll do, but if we have to take a risk, tracking the SS Deneb is the safer option.

Even if Anis commits the next murder?

The captain is right here. We'll protect them, it'll be fine.

What if it's a Protos other than the captain?

...

Anis is after power as strong as mine. She's devouring everything she can get her hands on.

Even if it's not the captain, another Protos will be sacrificed. After that, even greater destruction awaits.

Captain, you have some idea, don't you? About what Anis is trying to do.

Olga's words bring to mind the note Anis had passed along.

The power to transcend restraint and freedom ultimately lies within the Protos.

If you want to know, come to the place only we can reach, the heart of discord.

If discord is a labyrinth, then we hold the thread.

The hour has come to topple the lofty tower. We either join hands or crumble.

Then Arabella's words flash through my mind.

Do you hear that? The sound just now didn't come from your companions.

It's drawing closer. It only wants you.

I ask once more. What do you see before you right now?

My thoughts finally come together. What Anis's goal is, and what Arabella knew.

Right! That's why Arabella locked you away.

Huh...?

The steel figure wielding a sword, flickering behind Olga. Arabella clearly anticipated that I would come face to face with that figure.

Then why did Arabella arrange for Olga to meet me in Anis's place?

Using a Chaos relic to warp the space, and going so far as to pull me out of Chaos just to have me meet Olga...

Ahaha!

Instant coffee sprays from Hilde's mouth as she tips her cup.

*Cough, cough*... That doesn't make any sense!

If she wanted to protect you, there was no need to forge documents from the start, and no need to lie to you!

There was no need to drag you alone into the commander's room to threaten them! And no need to shove a gun into my hands and provoke me!

You've been holding quite the grudge, haven't you, Hilde...

Of course!

Arabella observed every single moment with relentless attention.

When information about Tiphera and Tiana was exposed. When she pressed the barrel of a gun to her own chest.

When she cut off support from the Empire and the SS Ironrain, and when she threw herself at the Invader Monsters...

All the way up to the moment she used the Chaos relic. Arabella asked endless questions and savored every answer I gave.

Anis met with other Protos and made them choose to follow her will or die as Primonium.

Why did she have them take the form of Primonium? Would she have willingly joined forces with a Protos who sided with her?

Did Arabella even calculate the effect it would have on me when she used the Chaos relic...

...

Alright, I'll give up on tracking the SS Deneb. Explain it properly to me later, Captain.

Why? Weren't you just agreeing a moment ago?

Judging by that expression, it doesn't look like you have any intention of chasing the SS Deneb.

Captain, be clear with me. What do you want to do?

Ha... I knew it.

So in the end, we'll have to wait for you to recover before heading back into Chaos.

Hehe, so you do need my help after all, right?

I'll heal you in no time, so just trust me!

Now then! how shall I go about healing you!

What if it hurts so much that you start bawling! That's a little worrying!

Hehe, want me to show you just a little?

Olga suddenly swings her scythe in the middle of the room.

The scythe, the wall, the bed, the wardrobe, not a single thing is left intact, all shattered to pieces.

All these broken things, with the power I have!

Hyah!

She swings in the opposite direction, like casting a fishing line to reel in a catch, and the shattered fragments of every object fly back to their original places.

The power to put broken pieces back where they belong! Well! Bet you've never seen anything like this before?

Hahahaha! You were scared, weren't you?! Scaredy-cat, scaredy-cat!

Olga hurls a mug at the wall as if to play catch. It shatters into pieces and scatters in every direction.

A broken cup can't be put back together, and scattered smoke won't gather again. A dead person can't come back to life on their own.

These are the rules the universe has set.

But...

Olga traces a clockwise motion with the tip of her scythe's blade, and the shattered mug returns to its original form.

I find that rule a bit boring, personally.

Hehe, does it look that way?

Bzz, bzz, bzz! Completely wrong!

Every object in the world doesn't just want to sit still, you know.

I'd say I give that nature of things a gentle little nudge?

Olga gets up from her seat, opens a drawer, and takes out a bottle of perfume.

She hurls the perfume at the floor as if to play catch. The bottle shatters, and its fragrance fills the entire room.

So even something like this...

Olga then pulls out a baseball bat and slams it down on the desk. The miscellaneous items sitting on top of the desk go flying everywhere.

And this too...

Then Olga swings her scythe, and everything that was broken returns to its original state.

The room is no longer fragrant. The floor is clean, and the desk is tidy.

I can do whatever I want, as much as I please!

Hm? Well, that's...

Olga gazes up at the distant ceiling as if playing coy. All the while, her tail sways back and forth.

Chaos is incomparably larger and more powerful than other objects.

Experiencing it once is worth more than hearing about it ten times.

Here, touch this. I'm making a special exception because you're the captain.

Olga casually takes the hand and brings it to her cheek.

Can you feel how hot it's gotten?

Indeed, I can feel a seething heat under my palm. It's so hot that it makes me wonder if a human body can endure it, so the first thing I feel is not my heart racing, but bewilderment.

Whenever I use this power, I heat up like this.

Heat, passion, desire... Flame is the word that points to the origin of all existence. Being hot is proof that we are alive.

Olga guides the hand along her slender waist, then down to the small wings attached below. Both hands naturally take the shape of someone molding pottery.

I'm always burning hot, and not just anyone can easily handle this heat.

Me, and you...

It's a power granted only to those who are ready to break free from the order of all things in the universe.

The wings flutter briefly, then vigorously breathe out flames. I expected to be burned by that heat, yet for some reason it feels calming.

Like putting shards of broken glass back in their place, I'm going to send the fragments of Chaos lodged in your body back to the Kaleidoscope Hatchery.

Since I'm touching Chaos directly, many things will have to be broken.

Only by releasing wildly, bursting, and pouring out heat will the discord return to its rightful place.

Do you understand what that means?

A scorching heat surges up from beneath Olga's feet as she steps closer. A smile as large and sharp as her scythe spreads across Olga's lips.

Humans are born screaming and spend their lives endlessly creating and destroying!

Desire is released without end, and humans cannot stop themselves!

As Olga raises her voice, a spherical energy field expands outward.

A powerful force swirls within the energy field, barely large enough to envelop the two of us. Everything around us shakes wildly of its own accord, so the pocket watch is clutched tightly.

Destruction is closest to the essence, and restoration is nothing but vain desire to defy fate!

And that's okay! Because...

The more we try to get back what's been destroyed, the hotter we burn!

Every object outside the energy field shatters.

Screws come loose on their own, assembled parts fall apart, and a doll's body and head separate.

And then...

Bang— A pink pistol explodes on the spot.

Crash— A perfume bottle and a mug explode.

Crack— The wardrobe crumbles and explodes.

This is all the price of moving discord!

Revel in the restorative power held within destruction, explosion, and madness! Ahahahahahahaha!

The more the surrounding objects are destroyed, the hotter Olga's body burns, and at the same time, the fragment of the Kaleidoscope lodged in my chest trembles and shakes.

Aah... Of course... Your power's tough, and it's slowly pushing the Chaos fragment out...

Captain... I thought you were a pushover, but at least this part was real, huh? Haha... Ahaha...!

Olga places a hand over my jacket. Olga's palm is hotter than flame, and the power radiating through that touch fills my chest completely.

Until the power fully flicks the fragment away...like this...

Hmm?

What, you can't even handle this much?

Such a pushover after all!♡ A pushover captain deserves a little punishment!

A little stronger...!

As the scorching heat swallows the power settled within my chest, an uncontrollable surge of energy comes whirling in.

Phew... Finally done.

Now do you understand? Why we had to be alone. If anyone else had been here, they'd surely have been blown away as dust.

Alright! Then shall we start cleaning up the room!

Captain! Start by clearing out the trash here. The broom and dustpan are broken too, so you'll have to assemble it yourself, be careful not to cut your hands!

If I use my ability any more than this, who knows what might happen?

So whether it's small things or big things, they all need to be put in their proper place...

Oh, well. My bad. It was so dark I grabbed the wrong thing!

Now you know how much I care about you, Captain?!

Ahahahahaha!

Phew! Cleaning's done!

So, Captain? How does it feel to have personally cleaned every corner of a lady's room?

Ahahaha! A little work and you're tired already? Looks like I'll need to use my ability again!

Aww, come on! That's no fun.

Wait.

There's something I need to tell you before you go.

You said you wanted to meet Anis again, right, Captain?

Do you know how I managed to find you?

I'll let you in on that secret right now.

Follow along well and I'll give you a reward... Give it your best shot♡

A rather poor showing.

Checkmate. You lose.

...

Thanks for playing. Would you mind one more round?

No way... You always start with the same pattern and end up losing with the same pattern.

Don't you remember how many times you've been hit with the exact same checkmate by now?

I remember. It's just that this is the only good move I know.

You're a strange one...

Olga left you behind, saying to trust her. Don't you feel abandoned?

Olga always does what's right, so if I'm left behind, there must be a good reason for it.

Wow... I like Hilde too, but not to that extent.

Could it be that this Olga person has brainwashed her or something?

Olga saved me.

Saved you?

I was on the brink of death once, and Olga brought me back from it.

I don't know how you all see Olga, but to me, she is always right.

Hmm... I can't tell if that's just a figure of speech or if she literally died and came back...

Hilde, I've brought the documents.

Anika! How did it go? Did you find anything?

Yeah, just like you said.

The data Arabella gave us is different from the documents stored in the SS Ironrain's archive.

Ugh, so she really was deceiving us!

But...

There was a note left between the documents.

Hm? This is...

...It's a note from the Black Spica?!

Let me read it. Ahem...

If you had met Anis, the captain and all of you would have lost your lives on the spot.

I'll tell you the location and the golden window of time to meet Anis. Don't forget this favor, and repay it slowly.

...Could this possibly be something Arabella left behind?

Hard to believe, but Arabella may have genuinely been trying to help us.

Hmm... I don't feel great about it, but...

The location and the golden window to meet Anis... Meaning we can determine the depth of their position.

Renoa, are you listening? We've got the most critical intel for this infiltration!

...

...Renoa?

...

...This won't do.

Captain...!

Found you!

Can't believe you could only hide somewhere this obvious, pathetic! Dummy!

Now the captain is it! Ahahahahaha!

Of course it does!

The stronger the power, the more drawn to each other you become.

Don't you want to test that?

If discord is a labyrinth, then we hold the thread.

The pioneer becomes the final destination, and we are fated to collide.

The hour has come to topple the lofty tower. We either join hands or crumble.

You do understand what that means, don't you? I'd be so disappointed if you didn't!

For real?

Hehe, then I'll trust you and go hide!

Find me within the time limit and I'll give you a special present, so you'd better find me! Got it?!

I close my eyes and count to 10. Olga, who was right in front of me, makes a rustling sound before going completely silent.

Even a pajama party with the SID agents felt awkward, and now here I am playing hide-and-seek alone with her. Standing with my eyes closed in the middle of a stranger's room is a surreal feeling.

I open my eyes and look around.

The room is immaculate, without a single thing out of place. Relying on sight alone, I could never find Olga.

But perhaps thanks to Olga's ability restoring my power, I can faintly sense her location.

I follow the sensation of our respective gravities pulling toward each other, mine and Olga's.

I pass the desk and bed and arrive at the dressing room where the wardrobe stands. Even though it's hide-and-seek, I knock on the door.

I can't be sure whether this power belongs to Olga or whether the person inside the wardrobe is truly her.

But one thing is certain, some force exists within, and it is drawing us toward each other.

As if answering the will of that force, I throw open the door.

Oh my...

Suddenly, a hot and overwhelming force washes over me.

Not the Protos ability Olga revived, nor the power Olga herself possesses, but the burning force of emotion stirred by the sight I witnessed in the dressing room.

Olga stops her busy hands mid-motion as she was trying to put on her clothes. Her face, too, flushes red with that same burning heat, and then...

She breaks into a smile like the blade of a scythe.

Pervert!

Even if you had prepared a lovely outfit as a present for a beautiful girl, to barge in before she's even ready!

Pervert! Creep! Lecher!

Pervert! Pervert! Pervert!

If you really want to see, get down on your knees and bark like a dog.

Maybe then I'll show you just a liiittle bit?

Olga's hand pulls back the collar of the clothes she was wearing. Whether it's the pull of some force or something else, I no longer care, the scene before my eyes gives me a headache.

What?! Was this really your mindset when you barged into a lady's dressing room?

Pervert! Creep! Lech...

To put this headache to rest, acting on instinct is faster than getting drawn into a long battle of words.

As I lean my upper body into the cramped wardrobe, a shadow falls large enough to cover Olga entirely.

Wh, wh, what?

W-wait, weren't you scared? Wh-what are you trying to do?

As Olga reaches toward the turned-up collar, the shadow grows even darker. A feverish heat different from when she uses her ability lingers around Olga's shoulders.

Eek...

Heh, heh heh, yeah, who did you think would be scared?

I only look young on the outside, but I'm old enough to know what's what! S-stop acting so high and mighty! I'm an adult too!

C-c-come on, come at me!

Y-y-yes! Obviously!

After all, your head is full of nothing but those kinds of thoughts any...way...

With a steady, outstretched hand, the turned-up collar is grasped and folded back inward so no bare skin shows.

The crumpled nape of her neck is smoothed out, and the dust on her shoulders is brushed away with a couple of strokes.

With a remark that any adult ought to cherish the people around them, I step back from Olga's side.

As the shadow retreats, a wave of heat rushes in, revealing Olga's face, flushed a vivid crimson.

...Hic.

It's not always possible to sense each other's presence. Only when certain conditions are met can you begin to perceive one another.

As far as I know, that condition is 'observation.'

When we look at each other, our minds fill up with thoughts of the other person...

And the desire that blooms from within engraves the other person ever more intensely.

The bed where we sit side by side after hide-and-seek welcomes us at the waist with the kind of cushioning befitting the 'lady's' room Olga always insisted upon.

Yeah. She was in the middle of killing someone.

I don't know that much. It was something I stumbled upon by chance in Chaos.

It seemed like she was asking whether they would follow her or oppose her...

Whatever the answer was, she killed them on the spot. She suddenly shot out these strangely shaped tentacles from behind her back, like this, like that!

Then she headed deeper into Chaos and I lost her. It's not like I can come and go as freely as a Protos.

But not long after, the mist suddenly cleared completely and Chaos got purified, you know?

Given the circumstances, the person who was killed was likely a Protos, and they were probably transformed into Primonium by Anis.

I cast a glance at Olga to see if she knew anything about Primonium or the Protos, but Olga steers the conversation in a different direction.

Seeing her walk boldly into Chaos, I thought she might be someone from the Empire... But the more I think about it, the stranger it feels.

The power Anis had inside her... It wasn't simply a Protos's abilities.

You could tell just by looking! How could tentacles shaped like octopus legs come shooting out of an ordinary person's body?

Even when I lay down to sleep, even when I was eating, Anis never left my mind.

She kept popping into my head so much that I shook Emilie a hundred times over!

Do you know when I get like this?

It's when... I want something I don't have.

The power Anis possesses... A power so special and so overwhelming it can't even be compared to all the weapons I've collected up until now...

I flew all the way out here on a whim just to get my hands on it.

See all the weapons in this room? I collected every single one of them myself.

This is an axe that split the heads of a hundred Chaos Order members, and this is a monster fluid sprayer manufactured in a secret laboratory.

And this one...is the first weapon I ever had. A TTW rifle.

Heh heh, you know your stuff. Must be because you're the captain of the SS Nightmare.

Ah! That? Someone told me.

I received this note while I was tracking down Anis.

Olga opens a desk drawer and pulls out a black note. A familiar emblem and handwriting catch the eye.

That's right. The black panther of the Black Spica. She's the one who handed it to me.

It said that Anis and you were at the Kaleidoscope Hatchery and to go look for you.

When I first met you, the power you had was so extraordinary that I actually mistook you for Anis.

Interested? Want to read it?

Ahahahahaha! You must be pretty terrified of her!

Dumb, useless...!

A stream of profanity reaches the ears after a long while.

...?

Thinking that not only Renoa and Hilde but the other agents would be waiting brought a moment of worry, and there was a brief silence,

as if unable to endure even that short pause, a sharp glare comes flying over.

...Hmph!

With a rough snort, Olga reaches out and shoves both shoulders, forcing a tumble back onto the bed.

Can't you see I was trying to say something important?

When you're with me, focus on me and only me!

W-who said anything about being jealous?!

It's because you weren't even listening to what I was saying and were about to leave...!

Th-that's... well, you see...

Olga's gaze drops and rolls to the floor. The way it rolls around limply is like a perfume bottle drained and discarded.

Feeling a little sorry for her, yet with just a tiny urge to get revenge for all the teasing, I tap her shoulder gently.

...Huh?

When Olga turns her head, the tip of a straightened index finger pokes her cheek.

...

...

You're so annoying. Always pretending to be an adult...

That's right, you're an adult. You're the captain of the SS Nightmare, so I don't know what you'll think, but

I still think about a dead friend of mine sometimes.

A friend who died because of my selfishness... My closest friend.

You must be sick of hearing this kind of story by now, Captain. You're going to tease me for being a loser who's still stuck in the past, aren't you.

Really...?

In that case... ...

Olga springs up from her seat and starts rummaging through the desk drawers and around the wardrobe.

Then she brings over dolls that look like Olga and Emilie, a small factory miniature, and toys designed like Terrascion standard-spec ships, dumping them all in a heap onto the bed.

I shall tell you the story step by step, with a cute little puppet show!♡

Among the dolls and toys, a model corpse of the late Emilie is boldly wandering around the middle of the bed.

It's a performance made just for you, so you have to watch closely, got it?!

Mom! Dad!

I saw a super-duper huge monster at school today!

It was a Chaos emergency drill, and this super scary monster showed up! It was trying to catch us! But these incredibly strong soldiers saved us!

Miss, that was a virtual simulation. If you say it like that, the master will misunderstand.

Please give me your bag first. I'll take care of it.

Emilie! You're not going to stuff goat droppings in my bag like last time, are you?

What? When did I ever do such a thing...

In this day and age, where would you even find goat droppings near the Terrascion munitions factory?!

Ahahahahaha! Teasing Emilie is the most fun thing in the whole world!

Once upon a time, there lived some very good friends!

Olga was the daughter of a very large and wealthy munitions factory! And Emilie was the attendant serving that very Olga!

Olga holds a doll modeled after her childhood self in one hand and a doll modeled after Emilie in the other, delivering a dramatic performance.

Hmph! As long as I was happy, what more do you need?

Anyway! Olga and Emilie attended school together and enjoyed a wonderful school life.

What Olga loved was raw power, mighty weapons, authority and money! What she hated was people who nagged her!

Mom and dad taught me what kind of things we made and how to stay wealthy.

Emilie nagged me every day, but since she couldn't go against me, it didn't matter.

Whatever I wanted, I got my hands on, and if I couldn't, I'd throw a fit.

Nice people always die first.

Yeah, Dad told me.

And I learned firsthand that it was true.

As long as Chaos exists, the war will never end. Someone is bound to die.

If important people like us die first, weapon production stops, monsters take over the planets, and who knows if it might even affect the Arks?

Wow... That's quite an arrogant thing to say.

When you say "us," you don't mean me and you, do you?

Obviously I'm talking about my family!

Hmm... If you die, I'd have one fewer person to wait on me, so things might get a little inconvenient.

Take your time before dying. I'll give you permission!

I'd like to be the one to choose when I die...

You don't treat me as an equal, but as an object. And I'm your only friend.

Hmph! All the other kids are just so beneath me that there's no need to get close to them.

I'm so smart that I figured out early on how this world works!

You understand? What matters is power! Power comes from weapons, and weapons come from...

Yes, yes. I understand. I need to prepare dinner, so please tell me later.

I wasn't done talking, Emilie!

Wow, now that I think about it, Emilie never listened to a single word I said.

Isn't that outrageous? How should I punish her?

I'll do it like this!

Take that, take that!

The Olga doll flies at the Emilie doll. Since the dolls have no joints and are short and stubby, the attack is expressed by a head-butting motion.

Why do you keep nagging?

I hate you! Dummy! Lowlife!

"Hate" is likely not entirely true, and "lowlife" is probably just a word she's throwing in carelessly.

"Dummy" is often used with a meaning different from its dictionary definition, so it's best to let that one slide.

Well then, shall we pick up where we left off!

Emilie! Let's go to the auction house!

...You're smiling so brightly, like you're suggesting a trip to the neighborhood park.

What has caught your eye this time?

It's a pistol made by IRHP. It's discontinued, ugly, and the performance is terrible, but its symbolic value alone is greater than any pistol the Ironrain has ever made.

What do you think? Aren't you super excited? Huh? Huh?

The thought of escorting you into a place crawling with rough-looking adults is already giving me a headache.

Great! Let's go right now!

Haah... it's always like this. I'll have to explain to the master later...

Olga went anywhere that caught her discerning eye.

At black markets and auction houses, she searched for unusual items, and at plazas holding mayoral campaign rallies, she would gaze at posters lost in thought.

If this mayor gets elected, how much will trickle down to our factory?

In front of brokerage firms, she pondered the invisible flow of money, and in front of logistics companies, she admired the clearly visible wave of capital.

I heard an employee there embezzled company funds, invested them, and failed. I wonder if they can win back the public trust they've lost!

Back then, I thought a sharp mind and wealth were everything.

But...something terrifying happened in front of that very Olga.

Something that could never be undone... Something truly terrifying...

Where's that guy from earlier? Grab him now!

Damn... Where did the information leak from?

You said it looks like junk to everyone else, so no one would bid higher than us, right?

How does it make sense that someone bid higher than our entire fortune?!

Looks like some rich kid thought it was a toy and took it... We can't just let that go.

That thing alone can set us up for life! Catch her no matter what! Understood?!

Phew... that was a close call.

That item was legitimately won at the auction, and they were trying to take it from us, what completely wicked adults!

Well, you did insult them the moment you won the bid by saying, "Can't even afford this? Pathetic!" So it's understandable they'd be furious.

No, that has nothing to do with it. Those guys never meant to let it go to someone else from the start.

Because the item I won today...

Has an incredible power sleeping within it that others can't recognize!

Really? To me it just looked like a pile of scrap metal.

That's exactly why you'll never make it!

On the surface it's nothing more than a lump of scrap dredged out of Chaos, but there's definitely an immense power sleeping inside.

Even among all those soldiers and high-ranking officials, I was the only one who recognized its value!

Have you ever seen worthless junk mixed in among the things I've set my sights on?

Not once. You've always perfectly spotted which stocks would hit the ceiling and which would hit the floor.

It must be a natural talent... I'm envious...

Of course, of course! Meanwhile you go around handing out charity to back-alley beggars! Hahahahaha!

...

Miss. I've had all the schooling there is to have, and I've learned everything there is to learn from the master.

I know the world doesn't revolve around good people.

But I'm not the least bit ashamed of the way I've lived, and I intend to keep doing good for the rest of my life.

Emilie...?

You always say strength is what matters, that the world is survival of the fittest... But in the end, that greed will drag you down an ever more dangerous path.

And eventually, you'll meet a terrible end. People who go off the rails always end up falling off the edge.

So I... Once this is all over...

...Found them! Over there!

Grab those little rats!

Eek! We were too slow and now they've spotted us!

Run, Emilie!

Aaaaaaaaah! I'm so sick of having to flee because of stuff like this!

Hah... hah... We barely lost them...

Wow! I thought we were dead!

Huff... Hah... You really don't mince words or actions, do you, miss...

I'm never following you again... I'm completely exhausted...

Ahahahaha, you say that, but there's no one else looking out for you besides me!

You're all I've got, and I'm all you've got! Right?!

...Are you actually admitting that I'm all you have?

Huh? No, I, that's not what I...

I mean, once I'm out in the real world I'll make plenty of far more influential and wealthy connections! It's just that right now, all I've got around me are these worthless students...

It annoys me to know that you're all I have.

Emilie...?

...Never mind. Don't worry about me, just go ahead and open the chest.

Uh... mm...

...

...W-well then, shall I open it? No matter what Emilie thinks of me, as long as I have this power it doesn't matter! Ahahahahaha!

Olga worked diligently to open the box, which was wrapped in layer upon layer of security measures.

Some of the security devices didn't open the way the purchase certificate described, so she had to use a gun from her parents' factory or ask one of the workers for help.

After an enormous amount of effort, the box finally opened, and inside was...

A jumbled mess of scrap metals of unknown origin!

...You're sure this is actually worth something? To me it looks like a half-excavated lump of ore.

That's exactly why you just don't get it!

Simple mining work wouldn't produce a shape like this. To call it a byproduct or residue, the craftsmanship of each individual part is too precise.

This is a kind of puzzle.

A puzzle?

See these pieces here? If you put these two together like this...

They connect! Pretty amazing, right?

Wow... You're right...!

You figured that out just from a quick glance in the auction house?

Hehe, it takes more than just a keen eye to pull that off.

Perhaps I am the chosen one.

Chosen? By whom?

The entire universe!

The energy of the universe, which recognizes my abilities and desires my power, has chosen me!

Otherwise, how could it make sense that everything I want just falls into place?

Ah, yes... So it was just you bragging in the end.

Let's keep working on the puzzle. I'd like to finish up quickly and get some rest.

Emilie!

Olga and Emilie worked diligently on the puzzle.

With each piece Olga fit into place, she felt a rush of exhilaration and accomplishment.

I can feel the power growing stronger!

I knew I was right!

Once I finish this puzzle, I'll gain even greater power! I'll be able to look down on even more people from an even higher place!

Olga's instincts had never once been wrong. She was certain they would prove perfectly right this time as well.

When at last only the final puzzle piece remained, Olga could already picture what the final result would look like.

Wow...!

Emilie! Can you see it? The puzzle we put together!

It's a scythe, a scythe! A big, solid scythe!

A scythe?

Hmm...

What's the matter? Hard to believe?

Well... It's not exactly something they use in Terrascion, at least.

TTW doesn't make them, and neither does any other factory... I'm just wondering why something like this would be in Chaos.

That's precisely what makes it all the more valuable.

A scythe this intricate and unique, disassembled like a puzzle... It means someone wanted its power to be recognized.

Now that I've recognized it, I'm sure whoever made this scythe is pleased!

... Yeah.

The discerning eye to recognize its worth... The wealth to obtain it... The ruthlessness to risk one's life in the process...

I'll never have any of that in my lifetime.

Haha, right?

Without me, you'd spend your whole life...

That's why, once this puzzle is finished, I'll be leaving your side.

...What?

Leaving...? What are you...talking about...?

I'm grateful for everything I learned by your side all this time.

But... I'm tired. Tired of waiting on you hand and foot, tired of tagging along on dangerous errands every single time.

I don't have much money... But I'm going to grow it little by little, just like you do, and become wealthy.

So I'm going to leave this factory behind entirely and go somewhere no one knows me, where I can live in peace.

Please finish the puzzle. I want to rest now.

...

Hmph... Like it matters not having someone like you around.

I couldn't care less! Go far away and starve to death, or get rich and live it up, do whatever you want!

Because I can get anything I want without you!

Olga fit the final piece of the puzzle into place.

The scythe, solid, stubby, and enormous, revealed its imposing form in the middle of Olga's room.

Just as Vytor reveals themselves to humans, consuming everything around them in a madness-fueled blaze.

Hehe... Here comes the climax. Keep your eyes wide open and watch...

Fi... fire! Fire! We have to put it out now, miss!

Ah...

Miss? Snap out of it, miss!

That's right... I called for you...

Vytor...? Is that your name...?

Miss! At this rate you'll get caught up in it too!!

Can you hear me, miss?!

Madness devours the whole world like wildfire... and we till the fields of ash...

We fill our bellies with the grain seized from fertile earth... and cut the throats of beasts drinking from the stream...

Holding the fury and cries of the masses in our hearts like drums of war...

We shall tear away the greedy things piece by piece and lay them before you...

No... She's completely lost in a trance... But why...?

Could it be because of that scythe...? If so...

And against those who stand in our way, we shall swing the scythe without hesitation...

Ugh... The piece slid in so naturally when I put it in, so why has it become so stuck now...!

Miss! Snap out of it! Miss!

Only when the flames die out will my calling be fulfilled... ...

...Emilie?

Miss! You're awake!

Please help me pull these puzzle pieces off, the whole house is going to burn down at this rate!

No...

Get away from it now, Emilie! You'll get yourself killed!

What? But...

That scythe will never stop destroying!

Keep touching it like that and it'll destroy you too...

At that moment, Emilie pried one piece free from the scythe.

The instant it was separated, the scythe restored itself in the blink of an eye.

Before Emilie could even sink into futility, the scythe drained the energy it needed to restore itself directly from her.

How did I know, you ask?

Because Emilie had become a puzzle piece herself.

...Emilie!!

Olga lost her only friend, the only one she had, to her greedy urge to get her hands on everything she wanted.

She sobbed as she pieced the shattered puzzle back together. The unrelenting flames dried her tears almost instantly.

The precious things she had collected over the years, the textbooks handed out at school, her cute pajamas, and her pretty curtains all turned to ash and vanished, and only then did Emilie finally reclaim her form.

Olga swung the scythe as the fleeting vision had shown her, and restored what had been broken.

That was when she realized that putting broken pieces back together doesn't turn back time.

The Emilie who returned, pieced back together fragment by fragment, no longer called her "miss."

But in return...

Olga, the Ironrain people are looking for you.

...

I told them it might take a while, but I guess they're not very patient.

What would you like to do, Olga?

Emilie...

...Do you remember what I said the day we first met?

Yes, I do.

You told me never to leave your side again.

I was born to serve you, so that is what I must do.

That's right. Ha ha...

This isn't the Emilie I wanted... I never wanted this... This is the worst...

...

I'll have whatever I want. That's what I was born for.

A lot of things will end up broken or ruined along the way, but...

That's entirely the fault of whatever broke. If they hadn't been born so weak in the first place, they wouldn't have broken at all.

But Captain... You would never...

...No, I won't say anything. I feel like I'll just keep saying things I'll be embarrassed about...

Ha ha... Painful? Hardly... Vytor's Herald can handle at least this much...

...Emilie! Let's head back! And give those guys an earful about their lack of patience!

Yes, Olga.

Vytor's Herald, Olga, has arrived! Miss me?!

I know you have no patience, but if you keep rushing me like that...

Captain! Are you okay? Everything alright?

You look like you've got your color back. You seem refreshed, Captain.

Everyone was waiting for you, Captain. We played chess with Emilie about twenty times, but it got so boring we ended up putting the board away.

...What? Why is everyone only asking about the captain?

I'm the one who removed the Chaos from the captain! I go out of my way to do something nice and this is what I get...!

Oh, that. I just got a message from Elaine.

She said the Chaos analysis wrapped up faster than expected, so you can go straight into surgery.

...

No matter how urgent the situation, leaving the captain's treatment in the hands of a stranger doesn't sit right with me.

To prevent a similar situation from occurring next time, we should update the emergency protocol and...

When someone helps you out, you say "thank you", what kind of reaction is that?!

Hmm, I still don't fully trust her myself, but...

If the captain says she's trustworthy, I'll take it on faith. What do you think, Captain?

Hmm... Well, if you say so, Captain...

Ugh! I'm telling you, she can be trusted!

All you have to do is hand over the power Anis holds, and I won't lay a finger on the captain. Got it?

Huh? Why?!

She pauses for a moment and meets Renoa's gaze.

If the power Anis holds is connected to Primonium, handing it over to someone outside the Empire could cause problems.

Removing the Chaos fragment and sharing her past, those are things to be grateful for, but whether I can go so far as to reveal the existence of Primonium...

Whaaaaaaat?!

I, I told you all sorts of things about myself!

Traitor! Lowlife! Idiot! Demon! Monster! Creep! Scum! Slowpoke! Dimwit! Numbskull!

Her insults seem to have gotten a lot cuter. Or am I imagining things...

Sure, sure! You're the oh-so-responsible captain of the SS Nightmare, and I'm just a greedy little brat, is that it?!

Hmph!

Olga storms out of the Operations Command Center ahead of everyone. Emilie glances back once, then scurries off after her.

Well... She's more likable than I thought at first.

Shall we get going too? There's the data Arabella left behind, the analysis is all done.

I'll fill you in on the way, Captain. It won't be complicated.

Got it, Captain. I'll get them ready right away.

Hmm...

How could I get my hands on the SS Nightmare's cannons, Emilie?

A weapon that massive can't be loaded onto your small vessel.

I know, but didn't you see what just happened?

It went whoosh! And blasted the Chaos Core away with a boom!

Ahh! I want it so bad! I want to rip it out whole and put it on display in my room!

The SS Nightmare's weapons are important too, but what's needed to destroy the Chaos Core is the captain's analytical skills.

But since we can't exactly take the captain, that's a shame.

Hmph, I know that much too, you know?

Now I'm suddenly annoyed, maybe I should just take the captain for myself right now?

Once is enough of that. If it weren't for the excuse of treatment, I never would have allowed it.

Well, I was worried the captain was being kidnapped, after all.

Yaaawn! It's hard to understand, trying to steal Anis's power while claiming to treat the captain.

I let it go because nothing seemed off when I listened in with the bug, but still.

A bug?

Ahaha... That's, um...

I must be half asleep! Talking in my sleep, haha!

Hmm...?

Actually, when the black panther handed over the note, she made a certain proposal.

She said she'd set the stage, and that we should each take one, Anis and the captain, split between us.

I would take Anis, and in exchange, hand the captain over to Arabella after treatment.

But as I watched the captain up close, I kept catching glimpses of a far more beautiful and more remarkable power than Anis's.

So I even brought up some unnecessary talk about the past... Ahem, well! I never intended to give the captain up from the start!

That's a problem.

Arabella steps toward Olga, who furrows her brow with a displeased smile.

A little brat with such poor judgment that they'd choose Anis over the captain is hardly worth giving anything up for.

Whaaat? Poor judgment, little brat...?!

Olga blatantly looks Arabella up and down from head to toe. As if discovering some undeniable quality in Arabella, she puffs up both cheeks, brimming with jealousy.

Eeeeeek...!

I became Vytor's Herald on the strength of my eye for talent alone! And my height, my height... Has just stayed exactly the same from when I became a Herald until now!

I didn't even bring up your height. Did that hit a nerve?

Whaaaaaat?! You want to go?!

...I'm sorry. The commander means well but she sometimes uses expressions that can be misunderstood...

It's fine. Criticism of Olga means nothing.

Olga, don't listen to those people. You are always perfect.

Haha, that's right! Good old Emilie. I always say you have good taste, just like me!

Little brat.

...I said I'm NOOOOOT!

Hey, is being tall all that matters?! How old are you?! If you're younger than me, you're dead!!

The gemstone has clearly vanished, yet for some reason an illusion appears, as if flames are spewing from Olga's mouth.

The scythe slices through the air, and the snake sword parries with ease. The sound of sturdy claws clashing is both ridiculous and lively.

...

Pfft, pffhh...

It's been a long time since I've seen Arabella act this childishly. Or perhaps, it might even be the first time.

Desiring through the captain, or whatever it means, I don't quite understand it myself, but...

It's certainly true that the captain's presence has had a great influence on Arabella.

This is the most joyful I've seen her since she became commander.

Unlike Olga, who swings her scythe a few times and then glares with sharp eyes and ragged breath, Arabella crosses her arms and watches on nonchalantly.

Wondering how the commander of the Black Spica expresses enjoyment, I tilt my head in puzzlement. Just then, a small vessel casts its shadow over the Chaos below.

Ah, they're here.

Commander, it's time to go back.

What a shame. It seems earlier than expected...

Or perhaps, being by your side made me lose track of time.

Arabella tilts her head, her dark crimson gaze steady.

Her relaxed smile remains, yet strangely, the faintest trace of lingering reluctance washes over her face in a dim light.

I'll take my leave. Being seen with us won't do you any favors.

But it'd be a shame to just go without saying anything, so let me share two things. What do you say?

Heh, how mischievous.

Anis hired us, but we took your side and turned against her. The surrounding organizations' perception of the Black Spica will shift accordingly.

We've sacrificed our credibility as a mercenary unit, so consider it a rare gesture and be grateful.

As long as you remember this moment.

And...

As you well know, there is no absolute good or evil in this universe.

Everyone moves with a touch of impurity, driven by their own desires.

The far greater desires surrounding you will reveal themselves before long. I hope you never waver, and walk the path your convictions lead you toward.

...Let's go, Licinia.

Yes, Commander.

Thank you for everything. Well then...

They're gone...

...We don't need to go to the SS Deneb this time, right? Just to be safe, what if we tailed them in secret...?

You're still curious about the SS Deneb, aren't you, Rei...

Of course! I can't stand being the only one left out of somewhere fun!

Was it fun? I heard it was absolutely terrifying... Haha...

Hmph. That black panther, showing off right to the very end.

Let's head back, Emilie.

Sure. I'll chart our next destination.

Off to claim some new spoils. Anis wasn't the only one I had my eye on.

More power, stronger weapons, greater authority, you could scour the entire universe and still never have enough.

And whenever I find myself thinking of you, I'll swing by the SS Nightmare.

I haven't given it up to anyone yet, so don't let it fall into someone else's hands before I get back. Got it?!

Let's go, Emilie!

Olga, you're walking awfully fast today.

And why is your face so red?

None of your business! Just follow me and keep quiet!

Alright... See you next time, Captain.

Anis's words suddenly flash through my mind.

Countless cadets volunteer for training in order to become Protos.

Most of those drawn by exceptional talent and a sense of justice fall by the wayside, and even the Protos whose abilities are proven carry out the Empire's orders with no memory of who they were.

If Chaos-related compounds are injected into the human body during that process... If that is one of the reasons Protos lose their memories...

...Anis's intentions were clearly impure, and the outcome was wrong.

Yet I still cannot provide an answer to the question Anis has raised.

Facts that are difficult to judge right now come flying toward the Prism, scattering as they split into truth and falsehood.

Yes! All ready to go!

Haaah... I just want to get back and sleep for ages...

I did accumulate a lot of fatigue. I'll need to catch some shut-eye as soon as we're back.

Everyone get some rest when we return. I'll distribute the schedule so you can all take it easy for a while.

Though the captain has something to take care of before resting.

You sent back the reinforcements that were coming from the Empire.

You'll need to write an explanation for the cancellation of the cooperation request from Executive Department and the Investigations Bureau.

The commander won't let this slide with just a scolding, so it'd be even better to have your excuses prepared in advance.

Pfht...

But... We caught the culprit behind the Protos serial murders and destroyed the major Chaos on planet Pagna.

And most importantly, we protected your life, which I was most worried about...

We can return with peace of mind.

No, once again it's thanks to you that we completed our missions safely.

Let's head back to the SS Nightmare. Thank you, Captain.

The long-awaited! much-anticipated! Hilde's 100-hour firearms lecture is back!

Everyone clap! Woohoo!

...Do we all have to sit through this? I'm already exhausted.

I'll go grab a cot from the duty room. Haven't had a good sleep in a while.

What?! You're all so mean! I just fought through a brutal battle, the least you could do is indulge me a little!

Everyone else fought through the same brutal battle. They're all tired too.

That may be true, but...

At least the captain would have pretended to listen for 10 hours. It's so sad, so sad...

If you feel that strongly about it, you should've stopped by the SS Nightmare. A transfer might've been a stretch, but a visit probably could've been arranged.

I did think about it, just a tiny bit! There aren't many people in the whole universe who can understand my boundless curiosity.

But I couldn't just leave our adorable Fireteam Fox and Buffalo Bomb Squad companions behind, could I?

Hilde...!

Don't worry, Eunie. This commander never leaves her soldiers behind.

And...

I'm going to rent out the shooting range for at least a month and test every firearm I've only been able to stare at longingly!

This pistol, that rifle, I'll fire them all to my heart's content! Hehehe!

...It was always about the guns!

Ahaha... Still, it's good to see she seems to have gotten over her trauma.

I was worried she'd still be shaking just from gripping a gun stock like before.

Mwahaha! The past is the past, I've overcome it all thanks to what happened this time.

Want me to show you? Take this rifle right here, with its pretty grip and comfortable cheek weld...

I c-can, l-like this, c-comfortably, gr-grab it and sh-shoot, sh-shoot it! H-haha!

Hilde! Put that gun down right now! Someone's going to get hurt!

...Still shaking just as much as ever.

Can't be helped. Trauma isn't something you can overcome so easily. I've heard that even on the SS Nightmare they do therapy sessions after every mission.

Let's get through it in our own way. I'm going to need a lot of your help to break free from my trauma too.

Anikaaaa...

I've never seen Hilde act this needy before. The battle must have really taken it out of her.

Hardship tends to make you grow, so let's take it as a good thing.

You worked hard too, Eunie. Get plenty of rest today, and starting tomorrow we'll do weapon inspections and get back to our regular routine.

Hehe... You worked hard too, Janet!

We'll be heading out then! Take care, Hilde!

Sure! Get plenty of rest!

...Wait. What about the 100-hour firearms lecture?!

Ahaha! They slipped away so naturally!

Ugh... How dare they trick me like this...?

I'm going to grab both Eunie and Janet and restart the 100-hour lecture! Tied up tight with rope and everything!

Yeah, yeah. Do whatever you want. I think I finally understand why you have such an obsession with firearms.

You always laugh it off and pretend it's just a quirky hobby, like it's just your nature, but...

Deep down, you feel more responsible for your role than anyone else.

...Huh?

You showed me how to redirect my focus when I nearly let my sense of responsibility get in the way,

and you share everything you know because you don't want others to make the same mistakes you did...

Watching you push yourself to pick up a gun even when you're still afraid of it, that's when I realized it.

You never let it show, but you have a stronger sense of responsibility than anyone.

W-well... Yeah... I mean, I've just been doing it because I like it, but...

...If you're going to put a nice spin on it, I'll take it!

So just for today, let go of that responsibility and get some rest.

I'll take it easy today too, to clear my head. See you next time, Hilde!

Yeah, see you. Anika...

...Oh no you don't, trying to dodge the 100-hour firearms lecture again! Did you think I wouldn't notice?!

Ahahaha, you caught me.

Cut me some slack for today! It's better if we all get some rest and meet up when things are less busy!

How many times have I let it slide only for you to run off? Not today!

It's absolutely not because my approval request still hasn't gone through and I'm just trying to grab anyone I can find...

Hm? Was that just your communicator?

Oh, y-yeah. Looks like it...?

Hold on, it might be top secret, so let me just sneak a peek alone...

Sender: Hilde. Short-term deployment request, now open...

Reason... Deployment to SS Nightmare for post-operation follow-up discussions and military intelligence exchange...

...

Oh... Ahaha...

It's not like I'm moving there! It's just nice to have a decent excuse!

Sure, I may have taken a trip or two that I wrote down as "deployment" but really meant "vacation," but I have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about, so you absolutely cannot tell the administrative unit, got it...?

...Hilde.

Yes, ma'am! Platoon Leader Anika!

You really...

...The Buffalo Bomb Squad has been with us through this whole mission, I can't just leave them out.

Obviously I should go with you as the platoon leader of the Bomb Squad. Don't you think?

.....Anika!

In exchange, let's push the 100-hour firearms lecture to next time. That works, right?

Of course!

Even if we head to the SS Nightmare together... When this war is over, let's make sure we come back to SS Ironrain!

With 20 years and 7 months left until the war's end, will the two of us actually make it back?!

But as the Xera Empire becomes entangled in an unprecedented crisis, our fate becomes impossible to predict!

We're only staying for a little while. You need to keep track of the time too.

Nooooooo! Anikaaaaaaa!