----Kouki Arakawa Viewpoint

　I'm sitting in my chair in my room, meditating while sitting in my chair to collect my thoughts after I leave the infirmary, when there's a knock on the door. I said 'Come in' and allowed the person who would be in front of the door to enter while sitting in the chair.

'Excuse me,'

　It was Claire who came into the room, her expression cloudy. What's going on?　Con, who had been curled up in my lap, was also looking at me and Claire-san in turn with a somewhat uneasy expression.

''Claire-san, what's wrong?''

''Yes, although it is uncertain, we have received information that the Capus Kingdom and the Rikru Church State have decided to put the 'Ghoul' into actual combat. At the moment, the Intelligence Department is working hard to confirm the accuracy of the information, but Miki-san would like to talk to you about this matter.

All right. I'll be at my mom's later.

　After saying that, I close my eyes again and start thinking in my own world, but I don't feel that Claire-san is leaving the room. She opens her eyes and tilts her head slightly while just looking at me, ''What is it?'' He asks, "What do you mean?

'Um, I'm sorry but I'd like to ask you to do this as soon as possible.

Commander Claire!　Didn't I say I understand?　If it's really urgent, my mom will contact me directly to my device. Could you leave me alone to think?

I'm sorry, too!　Excuse me.

　At my strong words, which came out unintentionally, Claire-san left the room as if in a hurry. I sighed, covering my face with my hands as I listened to Claire's footsteps walking away down the corridor.
　What the hell are you doing?　I took it out on Claire-san just because I couldn't get my thoughts together. I'll have to make a proper apology later........

''Hey, Con,''

"Con?

　I turned to Conn, who was curled up in my lap, and asked him as if he were talking to himself, and Conn said, 'What's wrong?' He replied to me. This guy wouldn't tell a stranger what was bothering me, so I started to honestly tell Con what I was thinking right now.

'You've protected Mr. Joachim, haven't you?　Then I wondered. Do we really need to continue this war? I heard from Joachim's wife and the soldiers of Merkava how the countries in the Union treated the sub-humans...I don't like the term itself, but I heard how they treated the people of the other races. The more I listen to that story, the less I understand what this war is all about.

　I broke off the conversation and looked at Conn, who looked at me seriously and gestured for me to continue.

I'm going to tell you a story," he said, "about how we, the 'Multispecies Alliance', won this war. How do you think we, the victors, would treat the vanquished 'United Racemen'?　At best, it would be an inferior citizen, and at worst, a slave. So wouldn't it be better to keep things the way they are?　
　Nowadays, we can only suppress some of the other races that are still few in number. But after the war, there will be dozens of times more human races suppressed than now, then...

　

'Didn't your master join this war to stop the chain of events?　That's why he collaborated with the demons and elves.

　You're right, but I was naive, I was too naive. Resentment that has been suppressed for hundreds of years cannot be forgotten so easily. There are some humans, like Joachim, who take the Ket Shih tribe as their wives, but most humans perceive the non-human race as a lower race. And the non-human races see humans as a lower class.
　The reason we are able to get along with demons and elves as equals is probably because we came to this world from the 'other world'. From Victoria's point of view, we are not purely 'human'. When I tell Con that, the letters come up again.

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that you have to give up here?　If you tell Mother, you can return to Hakone Base, and the remaining Noahs will take care of the rest of your problems. But the world after it's solved may not be the world that Master wanted.

'What am I supposed to do then?　You heard the stories from your wife and the Merkava soldiers with you!　If things were the way they are now, we could tolerate each other if we made a complete separation of the two sides.
　 Do you think the other races will forgive a human who has committed such a foolish act!

　As I yelled and screamed out my pent up exasperation, Con slowly floated up to the height of my face... and hit me hard on the side with his tail.

'Chill out!　It's true that your master may still be a young student, but this is a different world and he's currently a member of Noah's army and a general, commanding the Northern Sector Army. Be self-aware.''

Ouch, you lizard!　I didn't want to be a general in the first place. I rather didn't want to be in the war itself!　It's my mother's refusal to listen to me that got me into all this trouble I had to get into!　So why are you acting like you're going to save this world and you're going to do that on your own without my knowledge?

''Then why didn't you contact your mother directly when you led the army in the field?　We could have talked as much as we wanted using our personal devices. You could have emailed him.
　If you didn't do that, isn't it because you thought your master could handle it?　If you really didn't want to, there were plenty of ways to do it, and now you're going to stop whining about it!'

　Shit, shit, shit, shit!　I know that better than anyone else. I mean, Con is right about everything he says but I just didn't expect people from this world to be this stupid. Why do they go to the extent of strangling themselves and trying to exclude us, why can't we just go along with it? Why can't we just get along?
　For some reason, I couldn't hold back the tears that were pouring out of me and began to cry pettishly, but Kon, unlike earlier, gently patted me down. When I looked up after crying for a while, I saw Con leaning his head back and letting the words come to life.

''Have you calmed down?''

Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you.

　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you want to do.

It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you want to do.　No, this question doesn't convey the meaning of the question. 'What kind of world do you want this world to be, Master?'

'I want to make the world a place where everyone can laugh. I want to make it a world where we can at least protect one important thing.

　You may laugh at me for smelling like a brat, but I want to see that world. A world where people would laugh and hold hands - that would be a happy world.

'Then let's create such a world. We don't have time to stop and stay in our rooms here.''

'No. Is that why you've been listening to me?　I don't think it's going to happen. The alliance and the coalition are decidedly...

　When I tried to open my mouth to explain the current situation again, Con came up with a sentence that I could only laugh at.

'Why can't you?　There is your mother, who is the greatest genius in history, and your father, who leads the most powerful army in the world. There's also Victoria the Demon King and the elven princesses who lead the demon race, and Marvelous and Lyrin, the chiefs of the dragon race, who are the most powerful people in this world. And do you think there is anything impossible to achieve with a master that all of them look up to?　
　In fact, what you said was impossible, you have easily accomplished, using my mother's mathematical formula to prove a parallel world and liberate the remains of the moon you have done it when everyone else in the world said it was impossible.
　You say it was an accident, but I don't care if it was an accident, as long as it was an accident.

　I think what Kon is saying is an absurd opinion. But when this guy says so, I'm beginning to think that we can reconcile the alliance and the coalition.
　Then what I need to do now is to think of a specific way to deal with the ghouls, and given their name and biology, they are undoubtedly the "zombies" that have been used in movies in the world before they were reincarnated. We need to figure out how to deal with these ghouls, and I'm pretty sure they're the ones that were in the movies before they reincarnated.

"Okay, let's go talk to my mom and dad about dealing with the ghouls!　To some extent I have an idea, though. Thanks Con, you've changed my mind.

CON!

　At my words, Con let out a happy purr and climbed onto my shoulder, his usual stationary position, and wrapped his tail around my neck to hold himself in place. When I was about to leave the room, patting Kon's head, which has recently become a little heavier due to its growth spurt, Kon dexterously used his tail to make a magical character appear as if he had remembered.

'Speaking of which, I've been meaning to tell you for a while now that I'm called a lizard or a lizard bastard... I'm a female by biology. Considering that I've only been born a short time ago, I'm properly a girl, so please make me a lizard girl at least.'

Hey, that's a joke, right?

"What?　For all intents and purposes, I am a magnificent little lady. Look at those fine-grained white scales!　It feels great on the skin, too.

　 With such a light escape from reality, I started walking towards the CIC where my mother was supposed to be waiting for me.




----Arakawa Miki's Point of View----


　As I was looking at the map of the area in Alice's CIC and planning my next strategy, a blue-faced Claire-san came back into the room. I had asked her to call for Gongju earlier, but it looks like she came back alone. What's going on?　I ask Claire a question with that question in mind.

'What's wrong?　You look very pale, though.

'No, no. I've never seen that scary expression on his face before, so that made me feel a little.

　Gongju yelled at Claire-san?　Did she say something to him that upset him?　No, that doesn't mean that Gongju would ever yell at such a thing.
　It's not only that, but it's also the type of person who doesn't strongly express his or her emotions to begin with. At best, it can be said to be reserved, and at worst, it can be said to be an introverted character. That's why he can't turn down a friend's request, but he'll figure it out with future life experience.
　But what happened to him?　Shuichi-san, who was operating the terminal next to her, also seemed to be wondering and asked Claire.

'Claire you, what did you say to Kouki?　He's not the kind of guy who yells at you for no reason.

I just told her that Miki-san wanted me to come over. It's just that she usually follows you right away, but just now, she just sat in her chair and said she understood, and wouldn't move. So I added a few more words to ask him to go to Miki-san's place as soon as possible, and then...

So you got yelled at.

　To Shuichi's words, Claire-san replies with a small ''Yes........'' while looking down. It's strange, after all, there is no way Conju would yell at such a thing.

The actuality of that time, Claire-san, what was it like for Conju?　Did you notice anything unusual about it?

　Claire seemed to have an idea of what my question was about and gave me a quick answer.

I didn't turn on any lights in the room because of the indirect lighting on my desk. Besides, in his spare time, he usually spends his time watching books or documentaries that he's saved up, but he just seemed to be sitting in his chair, thinking about something.

That's...strange. No, that's not even close to the level of weirdness. What happened to that guy, Connie?

　Shuichi-san is right, the room that Conju prepared on Alice's ship is in the central part of the ship, so it has no windows. It's not normal to think in such a room with no light on and yell at Claire-san for interrupting you. What in the world happened to Gongju?　As I crossed my arms and thought about it, Captain Dylan spoke to me from where it was lowered a level and packed with CIC personnel.

"Please excuse me for interrupting a superior's conversation, but may I have a word? But may I have a word with you?

What's going on?

　Shuichi replies to Captain Dylan's words as he lights a cigarette.

''Yes, sir. It was five hours ago that Kouki-kun returned to Alice after capturing the imperial capital. At that time, there was nothing unusual in Conju-kun's words and actions, so far so good?

　Indeed, at that time, I saw the returning Kouki as well, but I didn't see anything unusual. Shuichi-san and Claire-san must be the same, nodding and urging the captain to go ahead.

'Then I have one thing in mind. Gongju-kun had an interview with both Sir Joachim's wife and the Mercava Knight about three hours ago. I didn't think it was particularly questionable since his wife is of the beast race, a race that Gongju-kun is particularly interested in, but I remembered that there was something somewhat tricky about the meeting with the soldiers of the Merkava Kingdom.

A meeting with the kingdom's soldiers?　What happened after that......... Don't tell me--!

Miss Claire, I want you to contact Princess Cassis, who is waiting in another room, and find the soldier who had an interview with Gong-Ju and bring him to me at once!　If the soldier says he's on some kind of mission, you can give him the order to report to me. Hurry up!

　If my prediction is correct, then I must use some forcefulness to confirm the facts. If the worst happens, the only way is to force Gongju back to the Hakone base. That would surely be the best thing for her and for this world.




　About ten minutes later, perhaps, a knight wearing the armor of the Merkava Kingdom entered the CIC, out of breath. He was accompanied by Princess Cassis, who had a worried look on her face, behind him.

''I heard from Commander Claire that you have some questions for me, what is it?''

'I understand you had a meeting with Gongju three hours ago. Can you tell me what you discussed at that time?

To my question, the knight remained upright and brief. Then he gave the worst answer I had expected.

''Ha, the common sense of this world that Noah's people call G-88. And related to it is the way we, the sub-race, are treated, rights, etc. I was specifically talking about our people being treated as slaves.

Hey, you!　You were instructed never to let its contents fall on the ears of Lady Kouki!　It's one of the highest written treaties of alliance between the kingdom and Noah. What you have done is a clear violation of the treaty!

　Princess Cassis accuses the knight in a voice that resembles a scream. In response, the knight says, ''I didn't hear any such instructions,'' and makes excuses for his unintentional and fatal mistake, turning blue in the face.
　In the Merkava Kingdom, which doesn't employ a solid information management system like ours, problems like this........., delays and non-delivery of instructions can occur in extreme cases, but even so, I didn't expect it to happen with such important details. More importantly, now──.

I'm going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it. You can't do that through program-related or system-related procedures, she can easily deactivate it and activate it. Tell her to physically lower the main thrusters and control unit.

Yes, sir.

''Shuichi-san, I'm sorry, but can you have your men fully armed and ready to stand by?　Worst case scenario, Gongju could charge into the Allied forces with a normal type.

All right. But what about the numbers?　The only people available immediately are the ten land combatants in charge of the ship's security.

''If I'm serious about taking down the fleeing Gongju, I'll need one power suit brigade and three infantry divisions. Shuichi-san, you should be prepared to hope for that much.

The crew member in charge of the radar at the CIC says in a whisper, 'It's not that big of a deal,' but he can say that because he's never seen that thing.
　As I recall, that was right after the Hakone base became fully operational, when the suits were allowed to use the field training area. I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this in the future.
　I remember that he was in a very good mood and had a happy expression on his face as the camera inside the suit sent to him. I and the other officials who were there watched the test, smiling as we watched the footage, but after a few seconds, we froze.

　She had performed the "Three-Dimensional Maneuver" with a suit that was only equipped with thrusters for jumping. In the manner of a triangle jump, she rose into the air from a building in the hall and used her jump thrusters to accelerate further, moving at an unbelievably high speed. When I showed the video to Shuichi, he said, 'Don't let anyone see this video. I'll break the confidence and pride of most of the wearers if you show them these things,'' he warned.
　As his wife, I am the most aware of Mr. Shuichi's excellence. The possibility of seizing Gong-Ju, which makes Shuichi-san say that much, has come up.

''Huh-uh, what should I do?

　The situation is too much for me to laugh about. I'm sure he'll understand if you talk to him because he's a good listener,'' such sweet thoughts come and go. You can't imagine that the gentle child would ever forgive the humanity of this world.
　When I looked at the desk, I found the cigarette that Shuichi-san was smoking. I've been stopping smoking ever since I was pregnant with Koki, but now I can't help but feel the urge to smoke it - the brand is coincidentally the same brand I liked to smoke, by chance. Gently reaching out and fishing through the packages of cigarettes, I found that there were still a few more in there, so I put one in my mouth and lit it up.

Strange, it doesn't taste that good. I don't know if it tasted like that.

　I can see that everyone around me is having trouble figuring out how to react to my soliloquy. Come to think of it, the only person who knew I was smoking was Shuichi-san, it's only natural that he would be confused if I suddenly started smoking.
　I thought about such a nonsense while feeling the pleasant intoxication of nicotine that I hadn't felt in a long time. When I had reduced the cigarette to ashes about halfway through, the door suddenly opened and a slightly swollen-eyed Kouki entered the room. Was he crying?　With that thought, I frowned at the cigarette and got up from my seat, and Gongju walked towards me with a look of determination on his face.

''You're late,''

　They only nodded lightly at my question. When he came to the desk where everyone was gathered, he looked at everyone's faces and then opened his mouth.

''Mother I have a favor to ask you. I need your help.''

What?

　The air is heavy..... No one spoke, only the driving sound of the machines that were set up. As everyone waited for Gongju's words, my child in front of me said with a look of firm conviction in his eyes.

''We want to rescue civilians from the area where the ghoul threat is imminent. We need your help in rescuing all species, whether it is a multi-species alliance or a federation of races. There's no point in fighting any more wars, let's do as little damage as possible.

　Everyone in the room smiles on their faces at Gongju's words, it seems that this child has grown up more than I thought he would. Even though he knows about the folly of humanity, he accepts it and tries to aim for a better future.

''Of course, I'll help you!　Leave it to your mothers. So do you have a clear plan?

I do, and I'm a little closer to my mom. I have one, and it's a little too close to my mom!　Also, stay away from the smoky smell of cigarettes, my dad is enough to make me smell smoke.

　I was mildly shocked by the sight of Gongju leaving me while making a terribly unpleasant face, and my thoughts wandered. It's true that this room is too small to hold a strategy meeting, and besides, I'll have to call the other members.

''Claire-san, we're having a strategy meeting in conference room A in ten minutes, so please contact the relevant departments. I'll go rinse my mouth off.

　With a sideways glance at everyone moving at my direction, I grabbed the box of cigarettes that contained the contents of Shuichi-san's, which had caused Conju to hate me, and threw it into the trash can. Now, I had to hurry up and brush my teeth or I wouldn't be able to make it to the meeting, I decided to hurry to the restroom in a short run.